UL Bohemian produced a stunning second half comeback to lift the All Ireland Cup, Fiona Hayes’ side notching four second half tries to power them to victory.

Whatever Fiona Hayes does at the interval to inspire her team seems to work wonders, trailing 12-5 at the interval, the Robins came out in the second half and looked a different animal than the previous 40.

Tigerish with an incredible desire after losing two finals to Railway in the Cup, they did not want to endure a third loss. It all kickstarted with Laois McGonagle producing a sensational turnover try from her own 22 and running the length of the Coolmine pitch to level the tie.

It ended with Chloe Pearse lifting the cup aloft after Rachel Allen, Clara Barrett and Allen again crossed for tries, while Eabha Nic Dhonnacha kicked two conversions and a penalty in that second half.

Railway had done so well in the opening half, Aoife Doyle giving them the lead and when they had the lead reduced Rhiann Heery scored another stunning effort in the corner for the advantage going into the break.

Battling hard in the second half, Railway just could not match the output coming from UL Bohs, Ciara Griffin O’Sullivan never missed a step on her return to the side, over two years since her retirement from full-time rugby. The other Kerry native Muirne Wall was outstanding at scrum-half, producing some incredible kicks to the Railway half recovered to give vital ball to the Treaty Women.

The unbeaten run continues and UL Bohs will look a real threat in the later stages of the league campaign especially with Griffin confirming she intends to stick around and give a hand to the team. 

A contest that was cagey from the start with Railway spending a lot of time on the attack, asking early questions of the UL Bohs defence, they powered for the line but were held up on the grounding.

Shortly after the restart Railway would strike, after several phases attacking the Bohs line, they sprayed the ball wide for the far touchline and Limerick native Aoife Doyle raced in to score, Doyle travelling with the Bohs squad this morning from Limerick, they certainly did not see her that time. Dani Franda dissected the posts with a terrific conversion and with 12 minutes gone in Coolmine it was 7-0 to the Dubliners.

That advantage lasted just eight minutes, Bohs looking sharp when they got out of their own half and going wide to the right wing, Eva McCormack took possession on the wing fending off the tacklers to race in and dot down. Nic Dhonnacha would see the conversion drop narrowly short of the posts.

Momentum looked to have shifted to UL Bohs after that but Railway were looking equally strong, especially at the breakdown. Breaking for the line a host of times, Niamh Byrne and Lindsey Peat with incredible carries, the Red Robins were well tested.

Soon after the half hour mark their defence was tested again as Railway were well able to shift the ball well inside the UL 22 with incredible movement, as they crossed the field they cut Bohs open and Heery gathered out wide and dove into the left corner for a crucial second score. Franada just missed the conversion attempt as Railway headed for the dressing rooms 12-5 to the good.

UL opted to huddle together on the field in Coolmine, Fiona Hayes looking to get her team back on track and bringing Laoise McGonagle on at the break certainly aided their chances.

Railway started strong from the restart looking to pin UL Bohs back early and assert their dominance, it looked like they had crafted an excellent move out wide to open up a chance for a try, only for McGonagle like a cat on a hot tin roof to pounce an intercept.

Reading the play with incredible knowledge the winger burst clear and with pasture ahead the Connacht speedster took off and despite the best efforts of Doyle, the fresh legs proved valuable for a second UL try with Rachel Allen converting the game was level.

Now it was very much in the melting pot, Railway needed to answer that score and with terrific defence at the back and Muirne Wall using her GAA background to kick into the Railway half, the Robins had a lot more of the possession.

Just prior to the hour mark, came a crushing blow for Railway. Bohs put in the work on the offence and Allen had space to cross the whitewash and for the first time the Shannonsiders were in the lead. Nic Dhonnacha converted for a 19-12 lead.

WIth a penalty awarded minutes later Nic Dhonnacha opted for the posts and the gap was stretched to ten points. Railway certainly had their backs to the walls in that second half as UL kept on the attack and despite Railway having some chances of their own, the Robins defence was ironclad.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Clara Barrett who returned from the Clovers selection this week showed her pace and quick feet to strike the left corner for the fourth try, Nic Dhonnacha struck a beauty to further the lead of the Robins.

The result was wrapped up in the final minutes of the contest, Allen again who returned from injury during the campaign and was a welcome name back in the group, spotted a gap again and went over as UL were ready to celebrate.

Railway did show their class with a team missing some big names, as did UL Bohs but that depth with the Clovers also allowing players to return this weekend makes them an incredibly powerful side for the rest of this campaign.

Post Match

Chloe Pearse

Fiona Hayes

Galwegians survived in the dying embers to ensure that they would keep the Plate out West for another year as Cooke suffered yet another final defeat.

It was a pulsating finish as Galwegians who ended the tie with 14 players on the field as Orla Fenton was sent off in the final quarter, were heroic in their defence. Cooke, who won the last two meetings between these two, played their socks off, just not going their way in the finish.

Galwegians were dominant in the opening half to take a 12-0 lead but did end the half with Fenton and Mollie Starr sent to the sin bin with yellow cards. Cooke came out fighting in the second half and did grab an early try, the momentum just failed to follow as Wegians had Roisin Maher to thank for two big tries in the game to ensure the win.

It was cagey early on, with possession mainly in the Cooke end of the field, Galwegians were strong on the attack from the start, as they got some space going they ran the phases and going wide Nolwenn Dubois stretched to get over in the far corner, a 5-0 advantage with eight minutes gone on the clock.

Wegians looked sharp on the wing, Gemma Faulkner went racing down the right wing but ended the move bundled into touch, they were enjoying going wide to use their pace as Cooke were equally as strong in the tackle to stop them in their tracks.

Pressure remained on Cooke despite a handling error from a lineout giving them a reprieve close to the line, Wegians regained possession, awarded a penalty they drove for the line and Roisin Maher was there to power over from close range to make it 10-0. Emma Keane added the extras for a 12-0 lead with 18 elapsed.

For the remainder of the half, Cooke were largely playing inside their own half of the field, Galwegians discipline let them down on not one but two occasions, Orla Fenton and then Mollie Star seeing yellow by the match referee due to a high volume of offences committed. 

Cooke showed signs of life all through the opening half, despite having little attack going in the period. The dancing feet of Katie Gilmour helped Cooke make strides toward the Wegians line, after a host of phases Cooke kept pressure on, a knock on however brought the phase and indeed the opening half to a conclusion. 

Cooke started the second half much stronger, after a dominant scrum ball remained inside the Wegians half, Wegians penalised once again a short while later and Cooke had a penalty in a dangerous position. 

Isle Van Staden opted to tap and go, the South African bulldozing for the line but was held up, Cooke went short yet again and when Van Staden got back to the feet, a second drive brought the try, Amanda Morton converted and the lead was reduced to 12-7.

Back to their full 15, Galwegians could make ground in the opposite half a short while after conceding that try, from the restart Cooke were pushed well back inside their half, after a handling error Wegians turned the ball over and inside the 22m line could get on the counter charge.

Running the phases and putting Cooke under pressure they had the chance and Maher again powered over from close range for their third try, Keane made no mistake to convert and the Bluebelles lead was back to 12 points before the hour mark.

Orla Fenton was shown a red card after 69 minutes for another infringement at the breakdown, this gave Cooke the chance to attack once again but heroic defending by Galwegians, first tackling Teah Maguire into touch before holding up another Cooke drive for the line.

Cooke did make it a grandstand finish, Stacey Sloan crossing from close range with minutes left on the clock and Morton made no mistake from the kicking tee. Cooke had to chase the game in the final minutes, they put everything into winning the contest, a forward pass in the end just seeing them fall short.

Post Match:

Gemma Faulkner

David Clarke