The Ulster Women, sponsored by Deloitte, finished off their 2017 Interprovincial Series with a disappointing 29-7 victory at home to Connacht on Saturday afternoon.
Captained by flanker Grainne Egan, Connacht finished their campaign in style with a deserved bonus point win over a youthful Ulster side at Befast Harlequins RFC. The westerners began the series with a stellar success against eventual champions Munster and followed that up with a loss in Dublin before bringing the curtain down with this five-try blitz.
Ulster fought hard throughout but were overpowered by the visitors who led 19-0 at the break following tries from star international winger Alison Miller, Jane O'Neill and Orla Dixon. Tullow out-half Hilary Griffin landed two conversions.
The Ulster Women hit back with a well-taken try from promising centre Brittany Hogan, but Connacht were not going to be derailed. The ever-threatening Miller completed her brace and Ireland-capped hooker Ciara O'Connor, who was arguably the province's best performer over the three rounds, showed deft footwork to make it five tries for Naughton's charges.
Scorers:
Ulster: Try: Brittany Hogan; Con: Beth Cregan
Connacht: Tries: Alison Miller 2, Jane O'Neill, Orla Dixon, Ciara O'Connor; Cons: Hilary Griffin 2
ULSTER WOMEN: Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union) (capt); Leah McGoldrick (Cooke), Brittany Hogan (Cooke), Peita McAlister (Malone), Amy Graham (Cooke); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere); Ilse van Staden (Cooke), Neve Jones (Malone), Aishling O'Connell (Co. Cavan), Hannah Beattie (Cooke), Amanda Maginn (Ballynahinch), Beth Cregan (Cooke), Lesley Megarity (Cooke), Lauren Maginnes (Cooke).
Replacements: Gemma McCutcheon (Cooke), Sorcha Mac Laimhin (Cooke), Helen McGhee (Cooke), Rebecca Smyth (Cooke), Storm Cobain (Ballynahinch), Emma Jordan (Cooke), Claire Johnston (Cooke), Eliza Downey (Cooke).
CONNACHT WOMEN: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians); Orla Dixon (NUI Galway), Shannon Touhey (Tullamore), Jane O'Neill (Old Belvedere), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere); Hilary Griffin (Tullamore), Mary Healy (Galwegians); Laura Feely (Galwegians), Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians), Anne-Marie O'Hora (Castlebar), Amelie Roux (Galwegians), Nicola Caldbeck (Tullow), Edel McMahon (Galwegians), Grainne Egan (Railway Union) (capt), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore).
Replacements: Ellie Dillane (NUI Galway), Katie O'Dwyer (Railway Union), Denise Redmond (Galwegians), Karen Douglas (NUI Galway), Sabina Egan (Galwegians/Buccaneers), Shannen Lane (NUI Galway), Niamh Ni Dhroma (Old Belvedere), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere).
Captained by flanker Grainne Egan, Connacht finished their campaign in style with a deserved bonus point win over a youthful Ulster side at Befast Harlequins RFC. The westerners began the series with a stellar success against eventual champions Munster and followed that up with a loss in Dublin before bringing the curtain down with this five-try blitz.
Ulster fought hard throughout but were overpowered by the visitors who led 19-0 at the break following tries from star international winger Alison Miller, Jane O'Neill and Orla Dixon. Tullow out-half Hilary Griffin landed two conversions.
The Ulster Women hit back with a well-taken try from promising centre Brittany Hogan, but Connacht were not going to be derailed. The ever-threatening Miller completed her brace and Ireland-capped hooker Ciara O'Connor, who was arguably the province's best performer over the three rounds, showed deft footwork to make it five tries for Naughton's charges.
Scorers:
Ulster: Try: Brittany Hogan; Con: Beth Cregan
Connacht: Tries: Alison Miller 2, Jane O'Neill, Orla Dixon, Ciara O'Connor; Cons: Hilary Griffin 2
ULSTER WOMEN: Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union) (capt); Leah McGoldrick (Cooke), Brittany Hogan (Cooke), Peita McAlister (Malone), Amy Graham (Cooke); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere); Ilse van Staden (Cooke), Neve Jones (Malone), Aishling O'Connell (Co. Cavan), Hannah Beattie (Cooke), Amanda Maginn (Ballynahinch), Beth Cregan (Cooke), Lesley Megarity (Cooke), Lauren Maginnes (Cooke).
Replacements: Gemma McCutcheon (Cooke), Sorcha Mac Laimhin (Cooke), Helen McGhee (Cooke), Rebecca Smyth (Cooke), Storm Cobain (Ballynahinch), Emma Jordan (Cooke), Claire Johnston (Cooke), Eliza Downey (Cooke).
CONNACHT WOMEN: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians); Orla Dixon (NUI Galway), Shannon Touhey (Tullamore), Jane O'Neill (Old Belvedere), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere); Hilary Griffin (Tullamore), Mary Healy (Galwegians); Laura Feely (Galwegians), Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians), Anne-Marie O'Hora (Castlebar), Amelie Roux (Galwegians), Nicola Caldbeck (Tullow), Edel McMahon (Galwegians), Grainne Egan (Railway Union) (capt), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore).
Replacements: Ellie Dillane (NUI Galway), Katie O'Dwyer (Railway Union), Denise Redmond (Galwegians), Karen Douglas (NUI Galway), Sabina Egan (Galwegians/Buccaneers), Shannen Lane (NUI Galway), Niamh Ni Dhroma (Old Belvedere), Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere).