Under Saturday night lights at Donnybrook Stadium Old Belvedere and UL Bohemian played out a thriller fitting of the occasion of the Women’s All-Ireland League final.
Reigning champions Old Belvedere registered the opening score in the ninth minute with a try from German-born wing Franziska Klappoth.
At the 20-minute mark, there was a shift in momentum after some sublime high balls from Munster and Ireland captain Niamh Briggs, playing at outhalf. Hooker Fiona Hayes drove over for a try at 23 minutes. Briggs converted to edge her side 7-5 ahead.
Old Belvedere rallied with some excellent phase play in the closing minutes of the half which led to a terrific team try scored by outside centre Emer O’Malley. Nora Stapleton nailed a tricky conversion to take the score to 12-7 at half-time.
After the interval, Old Belvedere continued to impress and in one of the moments of the match Stapleton beat several tacklers en route to crossing the try line on 48 minutes.
UL Bohemians responded with Briggs and centres Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird and Syphonia Pua creating havoc for the Belvedere defence. Pua scored the 52nd minute try that took the score line to 19-12 in favour of Old Belvedere.
With the lure of three in-a-row league titles for Old Belvedere, players such as replacement Elise O’Byrne White produced a Trojan defensive effort.
Bohs camped on the five-metre line in the match's dying moments and wing Liz Burke scored in the final play of the game. A conversion would take the sides to 19-19 and into extra time. However, Briggs missed and as a result Old Belvedere hung on to win. Scoring sequence: 9 mins: F Klappoth try, 5-0; 20 mins: D Hayes try, 5-5, N Briggs conv, 5-7. 40 mins: E O'Malley try, 10-7, N Stapleton conv, 12-7.Half-time. 48 mins: N Stapleton try, 17-7, N Stapleton conv, 19-7; 52 mins: S Pua try,19-12; 80 mins: L Burke try, 19-17. OLD BELVEDERE: B O'Donovan, H Rooney, E O'Malley, A Donnelly, F Klappoth, N Stapleton, K Dane, F O'Brien, S Lynch, A Egan, E Dunne, S Moore, R O'Donnell, N Fitzgerald, S Spence. Replacements: E O'Byrne White for H Rooney, M L Reilly for S Moore (both 40 mins) F Gleeson for S Lynch (64 mins). UL Bohemian: A Staunton, K English, S Pua, D Nic A Bhaird, L Burke, N Briggs, L Beamish, F Reidy, F Hayes, L Barbour, A O'Sullivan, S Hartigan, M Darcy, S Radic, C Pearse. Replacements: Claire Keohane for K English, E Murphy for S Radic (both 40 mins), M O'Donnell for D Nic A Bhaird (53 mins), L Galvin for L Beamish (70 mins). Sidney Montano, Robyn Gleeson, , Hannah Davey, Louise Galvin. Referee: Gary Glennon (IRFU)
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