Dexcom Stadium hosts the finals of this season’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship on Saturday.
Unbeaten Leinster host Munster at 4.30pm, preceded by the third-place play-off against Connacht and Ulster (2pm ).
Craig Hansberry’s Connacht finished in third spot, having delivered a 15-10 win over Ulster at the Affidea Stadium earlier this month, and they will be hoping to repeat that result on Saturday.
Their previous meeting was a tight affair with Méabh Deely sealing the win with a 70th-minute penalty, but Connacht know Ulster travel west seeking revenge.
They will also need to quickly put last weekend’s 12-47 loss to Munster at Dexcom behind them. On that occasion Munster out-muscled Connacht to record a third interprovincial win as they continued their drive for a second successive trophy.
Having already qualified for this season’s finals, Munster delivered to maintain their lead at the top of the table, while also increasing their run of victories over Connacht to six.
Connacht, in their first home game this season - and also their first at Dexcom since it opened - never came close. Missing key Ireland players, Connacht needed a bonus-point win to give them a fighting chance. And although they fought hard, Munster always had this season’s interprovincial trophy in their sights.
Despite a lively start from the hosts, Munster held a healthy 5-21 lead, at the break, courtesy of three tries. It had looked promising for Connacht when they opened with a third-minute try, having capitalised on a penalty when Munster were ruled offside. And from the resulting line-out and drive, debutant hooker Uillian Eilian crossed to open the scoring.
Munster were quick to respond. Two minutes later they were gifted an intercept, and right-wing Aoife Carey could not be stopped, and out-half Catriona Flynn’s conversion edged them 7-5 ahead.
Connacht, despite dominating territory, were unable to capitalise on two successive penalties to touch, while the visitors struck for a second try after 24 minutes. From a line-out, a series of drives eventually was rewarded with a second try through excellent prop Aisha Flynn, with the out-half converting.
Lacking clinical execution, Connacht continued to spurn opportunities allowing Munster to take control with a superior pack putting their hosts on the back foot. By the 32nd minute out-half Catriona Flynn added a third. And there was little respite for Craig Hansberry’s women, who were not helped by a line-out overthrow after a penalty to touch, and a knock-on just yards from the line as the half-time whistle sounded.
Matt Brown’s side was back on the scoresheet after the restart with both Alannah McInerney and prop Aisha Glynn adding tries within eight minutes. Munster confirmed their title credentials with two more tries, and although Connacht showed some spark with a brilliant individual try through Jemima Adams-Verling, Munster added an excellent individual try from Abbey Salter-Townsend to post three successive interprovincial victories.
