Ulster beat Connacht in fine fashion in Musgrave Park to secure third place in the 2023 Women's Interprovincial Championship. 

A stout defensive performance along with being clinical in the possession they did have allowed for a healthy advantage for Ulster throughout the game with Connacht being held up on the line on a number of occasions.. 

Ella Durkan was excellent from the tee on a day Ulster will be pleased to wrap up their championship on a positive note. 

It was Ulster who had all the pressure from the off and it was not long before they made it count, when Rachael McIlroy got over the line to give her side the lead. Ella Durkan did not have much trouble with the conversion at a comfortable angle and she made no mistake.

Despite being forced into an early change, Oviawe replacing McCormack, Connacht did start to rally back, and put Ulster under intense pressure at the goal line but some strong defence helped Ulster hold the ball up and preserve their lead. 

Just before the 20 minute mark, Ulster doubled their advantage, a great drive from Keelin Brady allowed India Daley to pick up and drive over the line to touch down, extending their lead to 12 despite the best efforts of the Connacht defence to hold her up. Once more Durkan converted from a nice angle to make it a 14-0 score. 

The next phase of the game saw the majority of possession in the middle of the park, with multiple forced turnovers from either side as two equally matched teams went toe to toe. 

Just minutes before half time, Taryn Schultzer was sent to the bin giving Connacht a huge opportunity to get back into the game before the break but more stout defence on the line kept the Ulster advantage sound at the break. 

After the break, Connacht knew they needed a quick score to get back into the game, but disaster struck as they turned the ball over to Ella Durkan on the halfway line just 68 seconds in and she ran the length of the field to touch down under the posts, a crucial score for her side. She stepped up for the conversion but sliced the ball to the right and wide, the lead at 19 just three minutes into the half. 

It did not take long for Connacht to get back into the game, Lily Brady got over the line despite intense pressure to finally break down the Ulster defence, with Nicole Fowley converting to reduce the deficit to 12. 

The Connacht comeback was short lived, as within minutes, the three try advantage was restored, Beth Cregan managing to ground for Ulster in the corner, as Durkan dropped a tricky kick short. Ulster now very confident of victory with a 17 point lead with just over 20 minutes to go. 

Ulster bided their time and allowed the Connacht pressure to come at them and knew they could pounce when the opportunity arose, and that they did when Niamh Marley showed an incredible turn of pace to burst through the line and touch down between the posts to put this game well and truly out of sight. Durkan added the extras for the third time today. 

Despite the best efforts of Niamh O’Grady, Ulster once again proved impossible to break down as Niamh was held up over the line with just over ten minutes to play. 

Connacht did breach the Ulster defence for a second time with just a few minutes to play, Orla Dixon getting over the line to the relief of the forwards who gave it everything on the day.

Ulster of course had the last laugh, Aishling O’Connell driving over the line to cap off a wonderful day, with the final score being 36-14.