Connacht host their only home fixture of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship on Saturday (2.30pm ) when Munster arrive at Dexcom Stadium in search of another title.
Leading the table with two bonus-point wins, Munster are understandably clear favourites to retain the crown. However, Connacht, back in Galway for the first time this season, will be determined to produce a performance in front of the home crowd.
They enter this week’s challenge on the back of having let slip a lead against Ulster last weekend at the death. Despite the 25-25 draw in Belfast, Connacht know it was an opportunity lost, having led the game by 11-25 after 60 minutes.
“A hard one to take,” says Connacht coach Emer O’Dowd. “We fell asleep for the last 10 [minutes], and they turned it on for the last 10. Ulster never gave up and just attacked us, and we leaked two tries.
“Not the worst in the world. It was a step up from last week, but it is a lesson learned. We should have managed the last 10 minutes better.”
While the draw ensures Connacht have two points on the table, they will need a win against firm favourites Munster to have any chance of contesting the title. Munster, having produced a five-try 32-21 victory over last year's champions Leinster, are already guaranteed their final place.
“We have to rise to this challenge,” O’Dowd says. "There are areas we have to look at, while also managing the game better when we do have that lead.”
Despite the defeat, Connacht delivered a strong performance, with opportunities also given to four debutants. By the 60th minute O’Dowd’s side was in front by 11-25, having led at the break by 10-6.
In a strong opening half, they delivered two tries. The first was finished by fullback Meabh Deely after winger Hannah Clarke did all the damage, side-stepping tacklers en route, and the excellent Connacht flanker, Faith Oviawe, delivered the second, unstoppable from inside the Connacht half.
Connacht’s domination continued after the break with a well-worked team try that was finished by Laoise McGonagle, with Ava Rider, Nicole Fowley, and Orla Dixon all making inroads.
Although Ulster struck for their first try minutes later when Lucy Thompson produced the necessary speed down the right wing, Connacht once again regained the initiative. It was thanks to quick-thinking Maebh Deely who took advantage of an Ulster knock-on to bag the fourth try, and when Feely added the extras and another penalty, it looked like Connacht would prevail.
However, the Ulster women stood up, grabbed the initiative against a tiring Connacht side, and in a dramatic finish, they produced two tries in four minutes. Impressive hooker India Daly produced the first and helped set up the second for Stacey Sloan, with Vicky Irwin adding the extras to level the contest on the stroke of full-time.
Ulster: L Farrell-McCabe;L Thompson, C Martin, T O'Neill, P McAlister; A Moyles, K Dane (capt ); B Cassidy, I Daley, S Barrett; B Barr, C O'Kane; M Hill, M Clenaghan, B Hogan. Replacements: C Hill, M Brodie, A Fannin, G McCamley, S Sloan, R McIlroy, P Smyth, V Irwin.
Connacht: M Deely; H Clarke, O Dixon, E Nic Dhonnacha, L McGonagle; N Fowley (co-captain ),G Moran; E Burns, L Brady, M Collis; K Tierney, G Browne-Moran; F Oviawe, B Gleeson, S Touhey (co-captain ). Replacements: S Hanley, H Lowney, R Maher, J Adams-Verling, R Searle, M Goulding, A Ryder.
