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Connacht U18 Girls 20-14 Munster U18 Girls
Connacht U18s claimed their first win at the new Dexcom Stadium after a strong second-half comeback against Munster U18s in round three of the PwC Interprovincial Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Munster led 14-5 at half-time, but Connacht produced a superb second-half performance, scoring three tries while keeping the visitors scoreless to secure a 20-14 victory.
It was an enthralling contest from the outset, with both sides producing strong defensive performances. Munster thought they had opened the scoring after just three minutes, but the ball was held up.
Two minutes later, Charlotte Deegan crossed for Munster after Emer Purtill made an excellent break down the line, beating three Connacht defenders before finding Deegan. Eden Waters converted to give Munster a 7-0 lead.
Connacht responded with pressure of their own. After turning the ball over in their own half, scrum-half Kitty Sweeney kicked twice to put Munster under pressure and forced a penalty. Sweeney opted for a quick tap and Connacht worked the ball to the five-metre line, winning another penalty.
They took the tap & go option again and moved the ball across the line to Rhea Sestak, who crossed for Connacht's opening try to leave the score 7-5.
Munster scored their second before half-time when Purtill broke through to score her second try, with Waters adding the conversion to make it 14-5 at the break.
Connacht came out strongly after the restart and reduced the deficit eight minutes into the second half. Róisie Ní Scanláin made an excellent break off the back of a ruck to score Connacht's second try, bringing the score to 14-10.
The game then became a battle of defences, with neither side able to find a breakthrough for the next 15 minutes.
Connacht eventually turned the pressure into points when the energetic Sally Fleming broke the line and found Leah McNamara, who held off the tackle to score Connacht's third try. The conversion put the home side ahead for the first time, 15-14.
Connacht were denied another try in the 63rd minute when Anna Cooley was held up, but they continued to press. After working through several phases inside the Munster five-metre line, prop Cairínn Kearns powered over with the help of her teammates to score Connacht's fourth try.
It was a memorable afternoon for Connacht U18s, who secured a 20-14 victory in their first appearance in front of the new Clan Stand.
Scorers for Connacht: Tries: Rhea Sestak (18’), R Ní Scanláin (43), L McNamara (58),C Kearns (69).
Scorers for Munster: Tries: Charlotte Deegan (5’), Emer Purtill (38’). Conversion: Eden Waters (6’, 39’).
CONNACHT U18: Niamh Gannon, Leah McNamara, Esther Albert, Ruth Conway, Anna Cooley, Sally Fleming, Kitty Sweeney (c); Róise Ní Scanláin, Losalia Atonio, Cairínn Kearns, Anna Murphy, Aoibhinn Lyons, Orla Palasz, Rhea Sestak, Isabella Garvey.
Replacements: Millie Ager for L Atonio (53), Amy Moran for R NI Scanláin (61), Holly Meehan, Poppy Tunney Ware for I Garvey (66), Cora Heneghan for A Murphy (59), Rose Fleming, Chloe O’Connor, Mila Fralkova.
Yellow card: I Garvey (37)
MUNSTER U18: Cate Foley, Emer Purtill, Alice O’Donovan, Elsa Quirke, Cora Miller, Eden Waters, Grace Cronin; Roisin Cullinane, Richelle Kingston, Charlotte Deegan, Pearl Phipps, Lisa O’Mahony, Laura Danahar, Catriona Conroy, Sadhbh Whenlan.
Replacements: Aobh Culloty, Ava Duggan, Alice Buckley for C Deegan (48), Danielle Naughton for P Phipps (HT), Julie Moynihan for S Whenlan (55), Saoirse Quinn for A O’Donovan (blood sub 15’), Keelin McCarthy for E Quirke (36), Ruby Wiley Murphy for L O’Mahony (HT).
Yellow card: G Cronin (26)
Referee:
