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RAILWAY UNION 24 UL BOHEMIAN 29, Aviva Stadium
Scorers: Railway Union: Tries: Laura Sheehan, Lindsay Peat, Penalty try, Katie O’Dwyer; Cons: Pen try con, Caoimhe McCormack
UL Bohemian: Tries: Laoise McGonagle, Chisom Ugwueru, Chloe Pearse, Gráinne Burke, Eilís Cahill; Cons: Kate Flannery 2
UL Bohemian stunned Railway Union with a try in the final play to hold onto the All-Ireland League trophy for another year. Nine Connacht Senior Women's players were involved on the day with Lily Brady (no. 2), Éabha Nic Donnacha (no. 13), Laoise McGonagle (no. 14) and Clara Barrett (no. 23) playing with UL Bohemian and Meg Collis (no. 3), Poppy Garvey (no. 4), Rhiann Heery (no. 11), Faith Oviawe (no. 20) and Mary Healy (no. 21) with Railway Union.
Eilís Cahill’s 82nd-minute try was worth its weight in gold as UL Bohemian dramatically outlasted Railway Union to win back-to-back Energia All-Ireland League titles for the first time since 2018.
When asked about the day as a whole, Westport's Lily Brady said, "It was the best day of my life so far without a doubt. Most players could only dream of playing in the Aviva, and it was an honour to get to play there twice in a row, and even more special to get the win on both occasions. I love my Bohs family, and I’m so thrilled that the Connacht contingent is growing down here in Limerick too! Clara, Laoise and Éabha were standout and I couldn’t be more proud to call them my teammates".
The Connacht players involved for both sides were incredibly important parts of their respective sides beginning with Laoise McGonagle getting the first points on the board for the UL side with a try in the 26th minute to bring them ahead of Railway 7-5.
"I thought railway were phenomenal and our Connacht girls did the jersey proud on both sides - it’s so exciting to have this amount of involvement from Connacht girls on such a huge occasion, and I’m sure it will stand to us this interpro season!" says Lily Brady.
RAILWAY UNION: Caoimhe McCormack; Laura Sheehan, Niamh Byrne (capt), Leah Tarpey, Rhiann Heery; Hannah Scanlan, Ailsa Hughes; Kirstie Stevenson, MeÌabh Keegan, Megan Collis, Poppy Garvey, Aoife McDermott, Mira Broeks, Molly Boyne, Lindsay Peat.
Replacements: Katie O’Dwyer, Tricia Doyle, Siobhán McCarthy, Keelin Brady, Faith Oviawe, Mary Healy, Claire Keohane, Aimee Clarke.
UL BOHEMIAN: Abby Moyles; Laoise McGonagle, EÌabha Nic Dhonnacha, Stephanie Nunan, Chisom Ugwueru; Kate Flannery, Abbie Salter Townshend; Ciara McLoughlin, Lily Brady, Eilís Cahill, Claire Bennett, Sarah Garrett, Rachel Allen, Aoibhe O’Flynn, Chloe Pearse (capt).
Replacements: Gráinne Burke, Ciara O’Dwyer, Aoibheann Hahessy, Niamh Brodie, Muirne Wall, Caitríona Finn, Clara Barrett, Maddy Kushner.
Referee: Jonny Erskine (IRFU)
