Mary energises Energia Park

LEINSTER Under-18 girls’ team played the second of their inter-provincial games in Energia Park, Donnybrook on Saturday where their opponents were Connacht.

Having lost out to Munster the in their opening game the previous weekend the coaches were looking for a positive response to that set-back in their hopes of claiming a third successive title.

Munster beat Leinster 27-17 and the home side were expecting a tough test from the Westerners who had hammered Ulster 67-5 in their opening game.

And boy did the Leinster girls respond. From the off they tore in Connacht and were rewarded with 62-19 win which puts them right back in the race for the honours.

Once again Laois girls played a crucial part and were central to this significant win, and none more so than left winger, Mary O’Hara from Portlaoise who scored three tries.

Close behind her was club colleague and outside centre Saffron Adams who bagged two tries.

Portlaoise flanker Lily Brophy may not have scored but she was a ball of energy all over the field while Portarlington’s Mila Mihajlovic came on as second half substitute and also impressed.

Leinster delivered a vastly improved performance as their forwards and backs combined physicality, pace and clinical finishing to overpower Connacht in an entertaining interprovincial contest.

Having looked below their usual standards the previous week, Leinster raised both their aggression and accuracy levels from the outset. Their physical intent was evident in the collision area, and it was fitting that the opening try came from a dominant close-range effort, loosehead prop Siofra McGlynn powering over from a pick-and-go.

The hosts quickly built momentum, adding further tries through winger Lily Harney and captain Emily Miller. Sophia White converted Miller's score as Leinster surged into a 19-7 lead by the 16th minute.

Connacht's early response had come through Isabella Garvey, who crossed after the visitors capitalised on their attacking opportunities.

A high-tackle penalty handed Connacht territory and possession, and they took full advantage. Scrum-half Kitty Sweeney showed sharp awareness to attack the short side before releasing wing Anna Cooley, who finished well to keep the visitors in touch.

However, Leinster seized complete control before half-time with a devastating three-try burst. Left winger Mary O'Hara claimed the bonus-point score when she shrugged off two would-be tacklers to reach the line. O'Hara then added a second try, displaying impressive pace after being released down the left flank.

The best score of the half followed shortly afterwards. White executed a perfectly weighted chip kick into space, with the lightning-quick Saffron Adams gathering possession and sprinting in from near halfway. White's conversion left Leinster firmly in command at 36-12 at the interval.

Connacht continued to battle after the restart, with inside centre Ruth Conway leading by example through her relentless work rate, while Garvey remained a powerful ball-carrying presence. Their efforts were rewarded when slick handling across the backline stretched the Leinster defence and created space for flanker Rhea Sestak to score. Fleming added the conversion.

Yet every time Connacht threatened to build momentum, Leinster found another gear. Straight from the restart, O'Hara produced a moment of individual brilliance, climbing above two Connacht players to claim the ball before racing away for a spectacular try in the 45th minute.

The introduction of fresh replacements helped Leinster maintain their intensity to the finish. Harney grabbed her second try of the afternoon, with White adding the extras, before Adams also completed a brace through a powerful display of pace and strength in midfield. White was again on target with the conversion.

As Connacht pushed desperately for a late score, openside flanker Milita Valyeryte capped an outstanding all-round performance by intercepting a pass and racing away for Leinster's final try.

It was a dominant display from Leinster, whose improved physicality, speed and ruthless finishing ensured they controlled the contest from start to finish and secured an emphatic victory.

Leinster now travel to Belfast next Saturday for an early kick off against Ulster.