Despite the result, the Ulster girls fought hard throughout, showing great strength to fight until the final whistle.
Early pressure from Ulster saw them open the scoring after just 5 minutes. A well-timed pick and go by lock Olivia Mckinley split the Munster defence, with scrum-half, Amy McConkey, crossing the line to claim Ulster’s only points of the game.
The visitors replied quickly with a well worked phase of play from the backs, leaving winger Cora Miller space out wide to capitalise on, levelling the score to apiece.
Munster doubled their lead instantly from the kick-off, with a display of swift hands to winger Abi Kelly, who beat multiple defenders, before cutting in to score beneath the posts. A simple conversion for fly half Lani Donovan brought the score to 5-12.
With momentum in their favour, and a lineout in dangerous territory, the visitors hammered a strong Ulster defence. Fullback Maria O’Donovan finished off another great phase of quick hands from the backs, adding five more points to the score board.
In another display of physicality up front by the home-side, Munster scored their best of the half, with Donovan dropping the ball to her boot for a well-executed cross field kick. Unmarked, Elena O’Brian scored the final try of the half.
Ulster fought back valiantly towards the end of the half, pushing hard both sides of the ball. With skipper Mckinley unfortunate not to capitalise on a charge down just inside the Munster 22.
HT: 05-22
Munster continued to dominate the start of the second half, having the upper hand at set piece, as well as a fast-flowing backline. A further try from hooker Ciara O’Driscoll stretched the lead to 5-27.
As the half continued, the pace of the game dropped off, with handling errors aplenty. Ulster’s task was made harder when outside centre Caitlin Crowe saw yellow for an illegal tip tackle.
In the dying stages of the game, the home side were building momentum as they looked to score a consolation. With decisive phases, and rampant carrying, notably McKinley’s efforts from a quick tap, Ulster were piling on the pressure.
However, it was Munster who scored the final points of the game. Replacement scrum half Julie Finn latched onto the inside shoulder of backrower O’Brien to score beneath the posts. O’Donovan converted her kick, with the game ending 5-34 to Munster.
Scorers
Ulster:
Tries: McConkey
Munster:
Tries: Miller, Kelly, M O’Donovan, O’Brien, Finn
Conversions: L O’Donovan (2)
Teams
Ulster U18 Girls
15 Aoibhin Smith, 14 Katelyn Magee, 13 Caitlin Crowe, 12 Emily Irwin, 11 Eunice Adesanya, 10 Grace Bracken, 9 Amy McConkey, 8 Maisie Bowden, 7 Alana Eadie, 6 Elinor van Lil, 5 Jessica Kingston, 4 Olivia McKinley, 3 Alanna Corcoran, 2 Alanna Scullion, 1 Orlaith Maguire
Replacements
16 Ava Boyle, 17 Alice Seaney, 18 Fianche Higgins, 19 Darcey Smith, 20 Myah Vance, 21 Meabh Hull, 22 Brooke Schoenfeldt, 23 Erin Robinson
Munster U18 Girls
15 Maria O’Donovan, 14 Abi Kelly, 13 Jo McCaughey, 12 Lily Byrne, 11 Cora Miller, 10 Lani O’Donovan, 9 Sophie O’Riordan, 8 Eliza Wiley Murphy, 7 Cailinn O’Brien, 6 Elena O’Brien, 5 Laura Danaher, 4 Lisa O’Mahony, 3 Alice Buckley, 2 Ciara O’Driscoll ,1 Aofie Martin
Replacements
16 Erin Ridgway, 17 Maya McMahon, 18 Aine O Rourke, 19 Orlaith Grimes, 20 Kiera Murphy, 21 Julie Finn, 22 Niamh O’Mahony, 23 Alice O’Donovan