Munster hold off lively Ulster in Interpro opener

Alana McInerney's first-half hat-trick of tries helped Munster hold off a battling Ulster 29-22 in the opening Women's Interpro at Virgin Media Park in Cork.

Munster looked in control as wing McInerney's first two touchdowns - either side of a Chloe Pearse try - put them 17-0 up by the 18th minute.

Ulster debutant Tara O'Neill's score cut Munster's lead but McInerney completed her hat-trick to re-establish a 17-point advantage for the home side by the interval as they led 22-5.

However, the home side needed a sensational second-half try from their other wing Chisom Ugwueru to maintain their lead as India Daley, Lucy Thompson and Brittany Hogan touched down for the visitors.

Ulster, skippered by scrum-half Kathryn Dane in her first game for the province since having a brain haemorrhage in November 2022, dominated the second half and wasted a number of other glorious scoring opportunities as Munster were relieved to hear the final whistle.

While Ulster earned their first Interpro in 11 years by beating Connacht last season as Leinster clinched the title, Munster still went into Saturday's contest at Virgin Media Park as strong favourites despite the clear recent progress in the northern province under coach Murray Houston.

Alana McInerney's three first-half tries helped Munster lead Ulster 22-5 at half-time although the wing was forced off by injury before the break

Early on, the match appeared to be going to the script as McInerney ran in a breakaway try after Ulster lost possession in midfield before number eight Pearse burst through some weak tackling to score following a lineout maul in the 14th minute.

Munster's lead was soon 17-0 as McInerney finished off a lightning break out of the home side's own half after Ulster number eight Hogan had been penalised for a high tackle.

However instead of capitulating, Ulster fought back to produce pressure of their own which was rewarded by centre O'Neill's try after a magnificent break and off-load by Hogan.

The home side appeared to be back in firm control by half-time as McInerney completed her hat-trick moments before having to go off injury, with Ulster's Sophie Barrett also having been yellow carded in injury-time.

However, the second half was a tale of Ulster superiority as - despite being down to 14 players - they responded four minutes after the restart, with hooker Daley finishing off a lineout maul before Vicky Irwin added the conversion.

Against the run of play, exciting wing Ugwueru, whose brother Ikem plays gaelic football for Clare, produced a mazy run past three attempted tackles to increase Munster's lead to 29-12 in the 53 minutes.

And how Munster needed that score as they were on the back foot for the remainder of the contest with Ulster replacement Thompson touching down in the 65th minute before Hogan notched a fourth try which secured the visitors two bonus points, given the seven-point margin between the sides.

Ulster coach Houston will rue a number of other squandered opportunities which included a three botched lineouts on the Munster line and Irwin kicking the ball dead when going for the corner - although that decision appeared highly questionable.