Women’s All-Ireland League Round-Up
The Women’s All-Ireland League is ticking over nicely. No surprises in Division 1 where UL Bohs are top of the pile. IrishRugby.ie has a quick round-up and a match report from a recent Division 2 North game between Malahide and Cill Dara.
UL Bohs Ladies team are, as expected, riding high at the top of Division 1 of the Women’s All Ireland League. They are unbeaten in five games and have picked up three bonus points along the road leaving them with 23 points.
Blackrock, their main rivals, are four points behind, having lost one game – to Bohs!
In Division 2 South, Tralee are setting the pace with three wins out of four and a total of 15 points. They are three points ahead of Shannon and five points ahead of Nenagh Ormond.
Division 2 North is also on an interesting track with Old Belvedere on top on 18 points. The chasing pack includes City of Derry, Belfast Harlequins and Cill Dara.
Cill Dara’s PRO provides us with this match report from their recent game against Malahide:
Cill Dara ladies travelled to Malahide for their 4th game in AIL Division 2 North on Sunday. On a perfect day for flowing rugby, this game was very tight with Cill Dara triumphing by the minimum score, 3-0.
Playing with the slightest of breezes, out-half Aine Donnelly played her team into the Malahide 22 in the early stages. An indiscretion at the breakdown gave Cill Dara a penalty 25 metres out and Donnelly kicked what turned out to be the winning goal in the 5th minute.
Malahide dominated for the next 20 minutes, gaining territory through penalties and putting pressure on the Cill Dara defence. The Cill Dara girls did well to repel a number of close-in Malahide drives with Janine Cross and Amy Guilfoyle making important contributions.
The remainder of the first half was more evenly contested with kicking to the fore. Wingers Deirdre Cahill and Miriam Doran proved faultless under the high ball and provided a constant threat on the counter attack. Cill Dara passed up another shot at goal when choosing to tap a 5 metre penalty but the ref deemed the ball carrier to be holding on and Cill Dara went in at half time a little frustrated.
The second half was a stop start affair with the attrition rate high. Injuries and the arrival of a Rescue helicopter meant that neither team gained any momentum. Most of the play was between the 22s but sub Sinead McBride was just short with a 35 metre penalty into the breeze.
The strength of Cill Dara’s bench was evident as the game progressed into an amazing 28 minutes of additional time. The fresh legs of Claire McCree and Michelle Miley ensured Cill Dara never looked like surrendering the lead.
The Cill Dara girls can be very happy with their three victories from four so far at this level and will be very encouraged with the improvement at scrum time. The ever present front row of O’Toole, Duignan and Murphy are proving a match for anyone and depth of the squad is giving the management options in every position.
Related Links –
Women’s All-Ireland League Tables