Women’s All-Ireland Cup Semi-Finals Preview
Women’s All-Ireland Cup Final, Dubarry Park, Co. Westmeath 24/3/2018 UL Bohemians vs Railway Union Railway Union's Megan Kenny and Daisy Earle celebrate after the game Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry
There are novel pairings in the Women’s All-Ireland Cup Semi-Finals, but the lack of All-Ireland League status for the away teams will offer little comfort to UL Bohemian and Blackrock.
Tullow earned their place in the last four of the competition with wins over highly rated Malone and a Galwegians side with genuine trophy ambitions. Those wins have emboldened the Carlow women and they head to Limerick with little fear of the task at hand.
You wouldn’t blame them if there was a sense of foreboding. UL Bohemian have won this competition more than anyone else, are current All-Ireland League leaders and beat Cup holders Railway Union in a tense quarter-final tussle.
A thrilling finish in Limerick as @ulbohsladies hold off @RFCRailwayUnion and win 13-10 in the Women’s All-Ireland Cup Quarter-Final. pic.twitter.com/kfEkl7wlEF
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 19, 2019
Tullow are currently second in Leinster’s Division1 behind runaway leaders Suttonians. The North Dubliners are unbeaten after 13 league games and enjoyed the most eye-catching result of Round 1 – a 15-5 win at home to Cooke.
Next up is a trip south of the Liffey to Stradbrook. Blackrock are also enjoying a season full of promise and are hoping to build on a healthy third position in the All-Ireland league with a third ever All-Ireland Cup final appearance.
Suttonians might feel undercooked coming into the semi-final after St. Mary’s were forced to concede their quarter-final tie. “The girls have been winning well in Division 1,” says Director of Rugby John McCourt.
“Playing the likes of Cooke you have an lot less space and time. It’s a lot less forgiving and we were put under a lot more pressure.
“We’re not ashamed to say it. We’re very hopeful of getting into the AIL in our own right. With more games at a higher level, we can improve an awful lot better.”
The Plate and Shield games also take place on Saturday to confirm the line-up for Finals Day on Saturday March 30th.
2019 WOMEN’S ALL-IRELAND CUP
SEMI-FINALS: Saturday, February 16
Both games kick off at 5pm
BLACKROCK V SUTTONIANS, Stradbrook
Blackrock – Path To The Semi-Final:
R1 – Shannon 0 Blackrock 45
QF – Blackrock 15 Old Belvedere 0
Blackrock – 2010 to 2018:
2010 – Finalists, 2011 – Quarter-Finalists, 2012 – Semi-Finalists, 2013 – Semi-Finalists, 2014 – Quarter-Finalists, 2015 – Semi-Finalists, 2016 – Semi-Finalists, 2017 –Finalists, 2018 – Round
Suttonians – Path To The Semi-Final:
R1 – Suttonians 15, Cooke 5
QF – Walkover v St. Mary’s
Suttonians 2010 – 2018: DNP
UL BOHEMIAN V TULLOW, University of Limerick North Campus
UL Bohemian – Path To The Semi-Final:
R1 – BYE
QF – UL Bohemian 13 Railway Union 10
UL Bohemian 2010 – 2018:
2010 – Winners, 2011 – Winners, 2012 – Round 1, 2013 – Finalists, 2014 – Semi-Finalists, 2015 – Semi-Finalists, 2016 – Semi-Finalists, 2017 -Winners, 2018 – Finalists.
Tullow – Path To The Semi-Final:
R1 – Tullow 17 Malone 17 AET (Tullow advance as team who scored first try)
QF – Tullow 10 Galwegians 05
Tullow 2010 – 2018: DNP
All-Ireland Women’s Plate Semi-Finals:
Old Belvedere v Bye
Railway Union v Galwegians, Park Avenue, 17:00
All-Ireland Women’s Shield Semi-Finals:
Shannon v Cooke, Coonagh, 17:00
Tralee v Malone, O’Dowd Park, 13:00