Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Division: Round 9 Review

Blackrock made it eight straight victories by overwhelming Suttonians by 79 points at Stradbrook, sealing top spot and giving them plenty of momentum ahead of their home semi-final against UL Bohemians in two weeks’ time.

Featuring on the wing, Ireland starlet Deely contributed two tries and kicked seven conversions for a 24-point haul. She is now the division’s second top scorer on 68 points, just two behind fellow international Dannah O’Brien of Old Belvedere.

The other semi-final will see reigning champions Railway Union host former leaders Belvedere. The play-off winners will advance to the TG4-televised decider at Energia Park on Friday, December 9 (kick-off 7.45pm).

Blackrock fell at the final hurdle last season, but are going the right way about avenging that defeat. The overworked Sutts defence leaked hat-tricks to ‘Rock captain Michelle Claffey and number 8 Hannah O’Connor, who is back finding form after her recent return to action.

UL Bohemians will be tough opponents though, as they ended the regular season with a fifth win in six rounds. Breakaway first half tries from Alana McInerney and teenage winger Clara Barrett – with her fifth league score – set them up for a 13-10 defeat of Galwegians at Annacotty.

‘Wegians were unable to turn their pressure into points, and despite a try for the Blue Belles from Ursula Sammon, a second half penalty from captain Nicole Cronin was enough to confirm Bohs’ passage through as fourth place finishers.

Railway Union bounced back to winning ways by beating Wicklow 22-5 at Ashtown Lane. Megan Collis and Ireland internationals Aoife Doyle, Ailsa Hughes and Molly Scuffil-McCabe scored a try each for the title holders.

With prop Linda Dempsey claiming their try, it is a measure of Wicklow’s terrific progress this year that they held the league’s standard bearers to just 17 points. Last season they suffered a 142-point hammering at the hands of the same opposition.

The Conference title, won by Suttonians last season, is also up for grabs before Christmas. The semi-final line-up is Wicklow, in fifth, at home to eighth-placed Ballincollig, and Sutts are away to ‘Wegians in a repeat of last February’s final.

Ballincollig gave themselves a timely boost with a maiden win, overcoming bottom side Cooke 15-3 at Tanner Park. The visitors dug deep to lead by three points at the break through a late penalty from out-half Amanda Morton.

Nonetheless, it was Fiona Hayes’ charges who gradually seized control of the scoreboard during a rain-soaked closing 40 minutes.

Replacement Caolainn Healy crashed over on the hour mark, and fleet-footed full-back Heather Kennedy crossed from a Jayne Pennefather pass to make it 10-3 in the 68th minute.

A third unconverted try for ‘Collig settled the issue in worsening conditions, Kennedy going close out wide before replacement Laurileigh Baker’s superb surge off the back of a ruck took her over the line.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE WOMEN’S DIVISION – ROUND 9 RESULTS:

Saturday, November 19 –

BALLINCOLLIG 15 COOKE 3, Tanner Park
Scorers: Ballincollig: Tries: Caolainn Healy, Heather Kennedy, Laurileigh Baker
Cooke: Pen: Amanda Morton
HT: Ballincollig 0 Cooke 3

BALLINCOLLIG: Heather Kennedy; Sinéad O’Reilly, Michelle O’Driscoll, Meaghan Kenny, Alison Kelly; Jayne Pennefather, Mona Fehily; Roisin Ormond, Clodagh Walsh (capt), Clare Coombes, Gillian Coombes, Denise Redmond, Eimear Perryman, Kira Fitzgerald, Tiare Siguenza.

Replacements: Annie Laffan, Orla Rea, Laurileigh Baker, Sarah O’Donovan, Caolainn Healy, Michelle Stafford, Ellen O’Keeffe.

COOKE: Teah Maguire; Tamzin Boyce, Christy Hill, Kelly McCormill, Megan Edwards; Amanda Morton, Hannah Downey; Ilse van Staden, Fiona McCaughan, Aishling O’Connell (capt), Gemma McCamley, Helen McGhee, Sadhbh McGrath, Chloe McMorran, Stacey Sloan.

Replacements: Katie McNeill, Georgia Boyce, Beth McCamley, Dolores Hughes, Lauren Pedlow.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE 79 SUTTONIANS 0, Stradbrook
Scorers: Blackrock College: Tries: Tatum Bird, Michelle Claffey 3, Hannah O’Connor 3, Méabh Deely 2, Ciara Scanlan, Maeve Liston 2, Ella Durkan; Cons: Méabh Deely 7
Suttonians: –
HT: Blackrock College 40 Suttonians 0