Munster sealed their place in the final of the 2025 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship after a convincing 33-22 win over Leinster in Donnybrook.
LEINSTER 22-33 MUNSTER
Playing with a maturity beyond her years, 19-year-old out-half Caitríona Finn turned in her second player-of-the-match performance in the space of a week as Munster took down defending champions Leinster in Energia Park.
A brace of tries from the inspirational Chloe Pearse, as well as five pointers from Chisom Ugwueru, Kate Flannery and Aoife Corey was enough for the visitors.
Leinster did offer up a dazzling opening score through Vicky Elmes Kinlan with Kathy Baker crossing in the first half also but by the time Molly Boyne, Katie Whelan dotted down near the end, it was long over as a contest.
The early stages were cagey, with a few handling errors and some impressive turnovers keeping the game scoreless across the opening quarter of an hour before Elmes Kinlan took centre stage in the 16th minute.
Deep inside Leinster's 22, the Wicklow star stepped off her right to coolly accelerate away from heavy traffic, and out of Abbie Salter-Townshend's grasp.
With open country ahead, she brilliantly angled her run down the left wing to evade both Órna Moynihan and Corey and make it over in the corner.
However, Munster hit back within three minutes.
A Nikki Caughey kick failed to work out, Munster went quickly from the lineout, and some lovely hands ended with Corey putting Chloe Pearse charging over from 10 metres out.
Brown's side had the bit between their teeth now, and the influential O'Leary followed up with a big break from deep.
Leinster coughed up another penalty, and after Eilís Cahill and Caitríona Finn took them up close, Pearse plunged over again.
Despite Leinster then losing Lisa Callan to a 24th-minute yellow card, they managed to score in her absence.
Replacement Kelly Burke was at the heart of a penalty-winning drive, and Kathy Baker, lurking back on the short side, used her strength to score past a couple of defenders.
Now just 14-10 behind, the hosts did not fare as well when Jane Neill was in the bin for a high tackle on Pearse.
Ugwueru capitalised on a strong Corey run – and a ruck ball that squirted loose – to go over in the left corner.
Just 44 seconds into the second half, the ball was grounded again for Munster's bonus point try. A slick offload from the classy Finn was the catalyst for Kate Flannery to score.
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, in her first Interprovincial appearance since 2023 combined with Maeve Óg O'Leary set the wheels in motion for Munster's fifth try, the phases gradually building for Ugwueru to put Corey over to the right of the posts.
Despite Jane Neill hobbling off, the title holders took some encouragement from the closing stages.
Captain Boyne stole a march on Munster to take a quick tap and drive in low beside the posts before scrum-half Whelan grasped her chance to wrestle her way over from close range.
With back-to-back bonus point victories, and next Saturday's trip to Ulster still to come, Munster look red-hot favourites for the final in Donnybrook in two weeks' time.
To set up a rematch with their arch rivals, Leinster will need to beat Connacht in Galway next week.
SCORERS:
Leinster: Tries - Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kathy Baker, Molly Boyne, Katie Whelan
Con: Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton
Munster: Tries - Chloe Pearse (2), Chisom Ugwueru, Kate Flannery, Aoife Corey
Cons: Caitríona Finn (4)
CONNACHT 12-7 ULSTER
Second-half tries from replacement Faith Oviawe and Roisin Maher steered a young Connacht team to a gutsy 12-7 win over Ulster at Dexcom Stadium.
With 21-year-old captain and player-of-the-match Éabha Nic Dhonnacha leading by example, Emer O'Dowd’s charges recovered from an early deficit to open their win account in this year’s championship.
Ulster’s new centre Siobhán Sheerin thundered over in the ninth minute, raising her side’s hopes of a first victory at this level in two years.
FT | CONNACHT 12 - 7 ULSTER
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) August 16, 2025
What a win! The women score two second half tries for a comeback victory on home turf 💪
Such a gutsy performance 💚 pic.twitter.com/9pfCy1Xm5K
They still led 7-0 after half-time, emerging unscathed from Brenda Barr’s sin-binning.
Nonetheless, with Connacht’s bench having the desired impact, forwards Oviawe and Maher scored within seven minutes of each other.
In addition, Nic Dhonnacha clipped over the first conversion.
The hosts, who wore their club socks on their State of Origin day, remained on the front foot and saw out a rousing triumph, putting last week’s disappointing display against Munster to bed.
Unfortunately the hard-earned four points came at a cost for Connacht as the luckless Kayla Waldron was stretchered off in her first game since a horrific leg break in April 2024.
There was a lot of concern too for Emily Foley who was taken off with an injury late on.
Ulster picked up a losing bonus point for their efforts, and will have home advantage against table toppers Munster at Affidea Stadium next Saturday.
Connacht remain in Galway, with a place in the final to play for against Leinster, who are two points better off.
SCORERS:
Connacht: Tries - Oviawe, Maher
Con: Nic Dhonnacha
Munster: Tries - Sheerin
Cons: Sheerin
