UL Bohemians 32-29 Blackrock College
UL Bohemians are the Energia Women's All Ireland League champions for the third year in a row after an injury-time score from young star Caitríona Finn guided them to a 16th title in their history.
A brace of tries from prop Ciara O’Dwyer and one each from Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Player of the Match Alana McInnerney and hero Finn helped the Limerick club flip the script in a rollercoaster encounter where Blackrock led by nine points with 20 minutes remaining, and had a two point cushion as the clock struck 80.
Blackrock were first off the mark with a long range penalty courtesy of Ella Durkan as UL Bohs struggled to break down the blue and white jerseys in defence.
The 15-time winners did come up with the game’s opening try however as loosehead prop Ciara O’Dwyer powered her way over from close range to finally make the territorial pressure count.
Like many cup finals, it was showing to be a game of patience, as Blackrock demonstrated at the other end moments later.
Andi Murphy and Maeve Óg O’Leary went close, the latter was illegally denied by Clodagh O’Halloran leading to a yellow card, before hooker Sam Brackett dotted down from the back of a splintering rolling maul.
The frantic energy fizzled before both teams would trade scores either side of the half hour mark.
First Kate Flannery calmly slotted home a penalty effort to level up matters before Blackrock replied with their next attack to reinstate a three-point buffer through centre Ella Durkan.
Blackrock would get an all-important try for the ages before half-time in a coast to coast move.
An overthrown lineout by Bohs came back to haunt them with Lauren Farrell McCabe and Maeve Óg O’Leary slicing the champs open from their own 22 inside the Bohs half.
From there it was about getting to space, with Galway woman Méabh Deely racing clear to push Blackrock into a two score lead at the break.
As would become the norm, this lead was short-lived with the Limerick side hitting right back after half time.
A sin-binning for the highly influential O’Leary was capitalised upon, with O’Dwyer again proving unstoppable from close range. Kate Flannery added the extras and the gap was just one.
Bohs were next to be placed on the back foot, but a Claire Bennett intercept and two fantastic Aoife Corey cover tackles relieved the danger and held Blackrock to just three points in a fifteen minute onslaught.
When Ciara McLoughlin had to be removed for a blood substitution for the Limerick side, TMO Colin Stanley was called into action, and the prop was thus yellow-carded for a high tackle.
From there Blackrock made the advantage count, as Abby Moyles’ cross kick was perfectly weighted to allow winger Andi Murphy dot down in the right corner to move into a nine point lead.
Bohs would hit right back with a slice of good fortune.
Aoife Corey’s attempt to deal with a bouncing ball was not flagged as a knock-on, and one phase later Alana McInnerney put Éabha Nic Dhonnacha over in the corner.
Caitríona Finn proved the catalyst for a tremendous fightback, as the reigning champions started to piece it together before Alana McInnerney bounced off a couple of tackle attempts to race in under the sticks.
From nine points behind to seven in front in the space of seven minutes, it was the fightback of a champion.
Still there was time for more drama, as Blackrock went in search of a late go-ahead score.
Twice they were denied before finding themselves inches out, with substitute Jill O’Toole popping up in acres of space to score.
Blackrock led by just two with seconds remaining and with it, UL Bohemians found themselves in a similar scenario to last year’s finale.
Lightning struck twice, with one late moment of excellence from Bohs.
Caitríona Finn, recalled from Ireland camp during the week, getting on the shoulder of Ava O’Malley to dot down under the posts, and break Blackrock hearts.
