The home side put early pressure on Queen’s as tighthead prop Elizabeth McKeever made a great read to intercept, but QUB were able to compose themselves quickly to regain possession. Queen’s then enjoyed a good spell of territory as they kept Cavan pinned inside their 22, until quick work at the breakdown got them a penalty to exit.
The Cavan side made a series of hard carries, which allowed Brigid Reynolds to make a break through midfield to bring them outside Queen’s 22. They looked to move the ball wide but one of their passes drifted just forward to give Queen’s the scrum. The Belfast side got the upper-hand and the resulting penalty.
Queen’s closest opportunity came on 21 minutes, when Rachael McIlroy took the quick-tap penalty just a few metres out to bring in her forwards on the carry. Cavan did really well though to force the turnover on their line. They weren’t out of immediate danger though, as Queen’s regained possession and sent the ball wide to Aoife McCormack, but Cavan managed to bundle her into touch five metres out for the line-out. They kicked up-field for Queen’s to re-gather, but a knock-on just outside Cavan’s 22 gave them the scrum.
It was Cavan’s turn to go through the hands, making some impressive offloads going into contact. Captain, Kate Bartley made a superb pop into the hands of full-back, Etna Flanagan, but they couldn’t get change from their attacking phase. Eventually though on the half-hour mark, centre Lauren O’Riordan found the space to go in under the posts for the home side, and Bartley added the conversion to put them 7-up.
The Belfast team had a succession of penalties, each one bringing them closer to Cavan’s line. They applied wave after wave of pressure until Abby Sheridan was tackled into touch by a resolute Cavan defence. The women in red kicked for touch but couldn’t get much distance, which kept Queen’s in a good area of the field. They were unable to capitalise on that territory however before the half-time whistle.
Queen’s started the second half strongly; Rachael McIlroy making an excellent break, but her offload didn’t quite take for the supporting Nicole Watterson, so it was scrum Cavan, ten metres out. Bartley then made the kick for touch.
Handling errors started to creep in for both sides as the game reached its third quarter, and Cavan and Queen’s struggled to make gains. Soon after, Sophie Hipson made a strong carry to make good ground for Queen’s, and Diane Ramsay caused problems for Cavan’s defence.
On 66 minutes, Queen’s got their first try of the game; Ellen Patterson showing real strength to power over the line. It went unconverted, making the score 7-5.
Co. Cavan tried to keep QUB contained within their half, but the women in blue got the scrum to regain possession and work their way into Cavan territory. Miriam Gonzalo made a super run to make ground.
Cavan’s impressive defence held firm, until the clock was deep into the red, and Queen’s winger, Lydia Montgomery went on a scintillating run down the right wing to run in under the posts and take the lead. Diane Ramsay added the conversion to see out the game.
Full-time score: Co. Cavan 7-12 Queen’s University Belfast
Scorers
Co. Cavan
Tries: Lauren O’Riordan
Cons: Kate Bartley
Queen’s University
Tries: Ellen Patterson, Lydia Montgomery
Cons: Diane Ramsay
Line-ups
Co. Cavan
(15-9) Etna Flanagan, Lisa Smith, Lauren Carpenter, Lauren O'Riordan, Megan Edwards, Kate Bartley (Capt.), Andrea Poulton;
(1-8) Lisa Lynch, Cathy King, Elizabeth McKeever, Danica Shaughnessy, Rosey Morgan, Kerri Morgan, Edwina Olwill, Brigid Reynolds.
Replacements: Claire McDermott, Anna Coyle, Nicole Curran, Pamela Smith, Kayleigh Rogers, Miriam Gonzalo.
Queen's University
(15-9) Ally McIlwaine, Aoife McCormack, Diane Ramsay, Ciara Grogan, Lydia Montgomery, Aisling McMahon, Rachael McIlroy;
(1-8) Rachel Smith, Aoife Cahill, Victoria Jackson, Anna Patterson (Capt.), Ellen Patterson, Ciara Orr, Arantza Riba, Nicole Watterson.
Replacements: Bronach Cassidy, Holly Furphy, Duaa Qureshi, Sophie Hipson, Abby Sheridan, Katy Lemon.