Mayo girls help Connacht record famous U18 win
Ballina's Emily Foley (centre) scored Connacht's only try.
There was jubilant scenes yesterday afternoon when Connacht secured the U18 Interprovincial Championship.
Following Thursday's 52-24 win over Ulster in Terenure, Connacht faced off against Leinster in the final at Dubarry Park, Athlone.
It was a tight and ferocious affair that finished on a scoreline of 8-5 in favour of Connacht.
Ballina RFC's Emily Foley touched down for the crucial try, while Siofra Hession kicked a penalty, which was the difference in the end.
There were five Mayo women on the matchday squad as Claremorris Colts RFC's Aoife Heaney played full-back, while Foley was on the wing, while Ballina's Gráinne Moran was scrum-half. Ballinrobe's Amy Horan was among the replacements, whil Castlebar's Aine O'Connor and Claremorris' Ruby Jennings were on the extended panel.
Aoife Heaney (Claremorris Colts RFC), Saoirse Lawley (Sligo RFC), Sarah Purcell (captain, Creggs RFC), Siofra Hession (Creggs RFC), Emily Foley (Ballina RFC), Jemma Lees (Corinthians RFC), Gráinne Moran (Ballina RFC); Ciara Corrigan (Creggs RFC), Uillin Eilian (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Ella Burns (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Catherine Fleming (Ballinasloe RFC), Chloe Conneely (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Merisa Kiripati (Creggs RFC), Ailish Quinn (Ballina RFC), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC).
Louise Seoighe (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Amy Horan (Ballinrobe RFC), Isabelle Quinn (Creggs RFC), Alannah McKeigue (Ballinasloe RFC), Aisling Whyte (Corinthians RFC), Katie McNamara (Loughrea RFC), Shauna Walsh (Creggs RFC), Róisín Power (Ballinasloe RFC).
Craig Hansberry (Head Coach), Luke O'Donnell (Backs Coach), Simon Lawless (Forwards Coach), and Natalie Fox (Team Manager).
Aine O'Connor (Castlebar RFC), Aoibh Morrow (Connemara RFC), Beibhinn Gill (Ballina RFC), Katie Griffin (Loughrea RFC), Lauren Hunter (Sligo RFC), Naomi Ward (Tuam/Oughterard RFC), Meabh Flannery (Corinthians RFC), Ruby Jennings (Claremorris Colts RFC), Shauna McDermott (Creggs RFC).
