The Bank of Ireland Paul Flood Cup is the primary knockout competition for the Women’s clubs involved in Division One and Two of the Leinster League.
There are four first-round ties on Sunday @ 1pm with Portlaoise and CYM receiving a bye. MU Barnhall and Mullingar both earned walkovers into the second round.
FIRST ROUND.
CLONDALKIN RFC v TULLOW RFC, Kingswood Farm 1pm.
Being led this year by coach Dave Plummer and hard-hitting captain Ciara Meenagh at twelve, Clondalkin looks to play an expansive attacking game.
This wide play comes on the back of a strong set piece with front rows Hannah Ryan, Debs Kinsella and Caroline Conway providing a solid platform at scrum time and no.8 Naomi Fynes winning lineouts on both attack and defence.
Returning after the birth of her baby, Niamh McDonnell has been an energetic presence in the pack and, as a result, is the leading try scorer for the team.
The back line is as electric as ever under the guidance of coach Philly Byrne, with out-half Shona Byrne, outside centre Shauna Healy and full-back Nikki Smyth always challenging defences and giving Clon go-forward ball.
Tullow is a well-balanced outfit, coached up by the partnership between Paul Canavan and Keiaho Bloomfield.
When clean ball is secured by a competitive pack of forwards, Alex O’Brien is a terrific ball carrier from number eight.
There is an intention to play through Ireland U18 out-half Dannah O’Brien, an exceptional goal-kicker and distributor.
It has opened the door for a more expansive running game which has produced a lot of tries for the speedy Chloe Farrell and Catherine Dempsey.
PORTDARA FALCONS v DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY, Lea Road 1pm.
PortDara, led by Kate Tynan at scrum half, has gone from strength to strength this year, primarily down to the fact that they have a panel of 30+ players.
With a mix of experienced players and those new to the game, the team likes to utilise their pacy backline, bringing in full-back Eve Kehoe whenever possible.
The pack also has a great blend of experience, with the likes of Amy Dempsey in the second row and prop Celeste Cannon.
Hooker Ruth Whittle and the versatile Mairead Scully are two of the newest graduates from PortDara’s underage system—which bodes well for the future.
Having come down from Division 1 last year, PortDara has had a very competitive year in Division 2, securing second place in the league and looking to make a big impact in the cup.
With the only team in the club being the women’s team, DCU have competed in Leinster League Division 1 since its formation, boasting an average team player age of 21.
This season saw DCU welcome two new coaches to the team. Richard Cowman and Thomas Hynes and also welcomed Andy Wood, Clontarf Head Coach, as DCU Director of Rugby.
An extremely experienced player, captain Lauren Retig sets the standards at number eight beside powerhouse second-row Kate Jordan.
Out the back, Louise McCleery is a smart operator at scrum-half and centre Ailenn Nagle has the skill and will to lock down the midfield.
RAILWAY UNION RFC J1 v BALBRIGGAN RFC, Park Avenue 1pm.
The Railway Union J1s have the benefit of training with the All-Ireland finalists squad which is a useful advantage.
Scrum-half Dani Franada is the key to the back division, controlling the game from the base of the set-piece and, sometimes, slipping to full-back as a threat further out.
Another new addition is Kirstie Stevenson from Hong Kong, who has made a big impression from dominant hits across the park.
When it comes to work-rate, there are few to match out-half Hazel Simmons, a fine decision-maker, and inside centre Alais Diebold, a force of nature on the front-foot.
Balbriggan underwent a transition at the beginning of the season with an influx of new players.
Thirteen players played with this team for the first time with almost a brand-new backline to the team that finished last season.
With a very strong scrum and forward pack, Balbriggan like to play an expansive game from the platform created by the forwards, with players backing themselves and each other to recognise the space and make the right decisions to play into it.
With the transitioning of the team, every single player, both old and new, has stepped up and contributed to the team in their own way this season.
TULLAMORE RFC v NAAS RFC, Spollanstown 1pm.
Tullamore has had a successful season this year, just missing out on a first-place finish in Leinster League Division One due to a tightly contested 13-10 loss to MU-Barnhall last weekend.
The Offaly club likes to use its fitness mobility to play a fast game of rugby, moving the ball smoothly through the hands.
It has produced many senior internationals over the last nine years in Shannon Touhey, Nicola Friday, Megan Burns, Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey and Ailsa Hughes.
Indeed, Tullamore looks to use Touhey’s ball-carrying as a primary source of go-forward to generate momentum.
Naas come into the cup on the back of a solid league campaign in their first season in Leinster Division Two.
The team is a good mix of young players, who have just come through the youths ranks, such as Ellen Murray, Katie Halpin, Emma Tully, Jess Weld and Aoife Furlong.
These young players are joined by more experienced players such as Molly Fitzpatrick, Ali Miley, and Ciara Mckeown, and some GAA converts including Sheena Hubbard, Aisling Mahon, Mary Hulgraine and captain Clare Finn.
The team has survived the non-availability of Leinster players Emily Mckeown and Mary Healy well to finish in the top half of the league, just missing out on a promotion play-off.
TEAMS
BALBRIGGAN
COACHES: Jeff Neville, Michelle Claffey
CAPTAIN: Eadaoin Cannon
SQUAD – Eadaoin Cannon, Holly Keogh, Giorgia Tanner, Caoimhe Colman, Sydney Sterio, Stephanie Campbell, Kate McFadden, Tracey McFadden, Lorna McKenna, Beth Kirwan, Cliodhna Ní Chonchobhair, Rachel Mulligan, Megan McAuley, Laura McDonald, Sarah McDonald, Nneka Uchegbu, Laura Brown, Emir O’Brien, Sarah Keane, Lynsey Creighton, Geraldine Byrne, Andrea Murray, Elle McCulloch, Sorcha Murphy.
CLONDALKIN
COACHES – Dave Plummer, Philip Byrne, Darren Madden.
CAPTAIN – Ciara Meenagh
SQUAD – Aine Costello, Alannah Irwin, Annmarie Corcoran, Aoife Cunningham, Aoife Fox, Kerryn “Bunny” Buck, Caroline Conway, Cassie Leavy, Cat Gorman, Ciara Meenagh, Debbie Hendricks, Debs Kinsella, Ellen King, Emma Callaghan, Emma Lewis, Hannah Ryan, Irene Tshmala, Louise Dixon, Lucy Fitzpatrick, Mimi Nguyen, Naomi Fynes, Niamh Farrelly, Nikki Smyth, Olivia Shattock, Rachael Kavanagh, Sara Cruz, Sara Ryan, Sarah Jane Masterson, Shauna Healy, Shauna O Connor, Shóna Byrne, Tracey McCarrick, Caoímhe Peggs, Erica Keegan, Lara Kenny.
CYM
COACHES – Joe Halpin, Dave Quinn.
CAPTAIN – Erin Moorhead.
SQUAD – Aine Vesey, Aisling Conlon, Aisling Doherty, Amy Coyle, Aoife O’Sullivan, Aude De Casanove, Caoimhe Brady, Cara O’Shea, Carole Pradel, Catherine Hahesy, Emma Doolan, Erin Moorhead, Grace Filan, Jane Fitzpatrick, Jenny Fehily, Joanna Walsh, Kate Eacrett, Laura Caulfield, Marion Peltret, Mariya Hortashka, Monica Beresford, Noreen Cassidy, Rachel Donnelly, Rachel Horan, Ruth Ecumoire, Sarah Wheelan, Siobhan Condon.
DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
COACHES – Richard Cowan (head coach), Tom Hynes.
CAPTAIN – Lauren Retig.
SQUAD – Louise McCleery, Aileen Nagle, Kate Jordan, Lauren Retig, Abbie May Keely, Abbie Gibney, Andrea McGlynn, Aoife Guinan, Ciara Ni Bhrolchain, Eilis Hogbin, Emily Whittle, Grace Mahon, Kate Jordan, Katie Kelly, Keela Walsh Fagherazzi, Lauren Retig, Leanne Cronin, Lily Onilenla, Lize Toivonena, Molly O’Toole, Nikki Gibson, Ronke Olatinwo, Síafra Ní Bhriain, Jessica Woodlock, Aoife Brennan, Cara Murphy, Louise Moynan, Evelyn O’Driscoll, Emily Jo White, Maeve Cole, Albha Oman, Anna Hilliard.
DUBLIN UNIVERSITY
COACHES – Andy Adams.
CAPTAIN – Patricia Doyle.
SQUAD – Patricia Doyle, Anna Doran, Alannah Fisciardi-Wallace, Hannah Costello, Ashley Palermo, Cassandra McCloat, Kira Shirrmacher, Sophie Leddin, Kelsey Tobin, Grace Jackson, Sophie Balay-Chawke, Jill O’Toole, Beven Kelleher, Aisling Slater, Caoimhe Ryan, Juliet Byrne, Ellen O’Connor, Emelia Dean, Ellen Quigley, Orla Fitzgerald, Luz Cuentas, Camille Fournel, Lauren Devitt, Harriot Doyle, Emily Foy, Hannah Chapman, Robyn Tyrell, Taylor Jacoby, Olly Keefe, Ciara Black, Veronique Russell.
MU BARNHALL
COACHES – Bryan Murray, Dominick Gleeson, Tracey Talbot, Niamh Fitzgerald.
CAPTAIN – Niamh Quinn.
SQUAD – Amanda Delmer, Emily Byrne, Aoibheann Healy, Koren Dunne, Niamh Quinn, Sarah Haughian, Ciara O’Leary, Holly Leach, Ciara Carbery, Ava Gleeson, Lauren Patterson, Alannah Fraser, Katelynn Dorna, Mia Kelly, Alex Casey, Yvonne Hoey, Rebecca Francis, Emma Kiernan, Orla Fitzsimons, Niamh Fitzgerald, Aoife Walter, Anne Carroll, Ruth Campbell, Emma Larkin, Lia Brannigan, Sarah Baker.
MULLINGAR
COACHES – Kieron Sloyan (Coach), Aoife Doonan (Manager), Paula Lafferty (Manager)
CAPTAIN – Clodagh O’Brien.
SQUAD – Aine Hayden, Alana Norris, Anna Lisowska, Anna Scanlon, Aoife Doonan, Ciara Foxe, Ciara Wynne, Clodagh O’Brien, Eadaoin Liddy, Emily Flynn, Emily O’Brien, Etaoin Donohoe-Conroy, Gemma Faulkner, Georgia Young, Judy Dowling, Kara Mulcahy, Karen Kilduff, Makayla McCormack, Molly Swanson, Niamh Gough, Orlaith Wallace, Paula Lafferty, Robyn O’Brien, Sarah Cross Melligan, Sinead Gallagher, Sinead Lyons, Sophie Treanor, Susie Burzawa, Tracey Finnerty.
NAAS
COACHES – Fionn Higgins, PJ Jordan, Brian Smith, Bev Mahon (Manager).
CAPTAIN – Clare Finn.
SQUAD – Abbie Cullen, Aisling Mahon, Ali Miley, Amy Horan, Amy Moran, Aoibheann O’Sullivan, Aoife Furlong, Asta Rowe, Beverley Mahon, Caitriona Sheridan, Cassandra O’Hare, Cherry Damgo, Ciara Mckeown, Clare Finn, Cleo Hubbard, Ella Morris, Ellen Murray, Emily Mckeown, Emma Tully, Jamie Garland, Jane Fallon, Jessica Weld, Katie Halpin, Katie Ann O’Neill, Katie Hughes, Lauren Bergin, Malgorzata Korpas, Mary Healy, Mary Hulgraine, Molly Fitzpatrick, Natasha Moroney, Rachel Naughton, Sheena Hubbard, Zoe Dunbar.
OLD BELVEDERE
COACHES – Cathy Murphy (head coach), Ailis Mardon-Egan, Jonathan Garth, Tania Rosser, Celeste Raack (S&C).
CAPTAIN – Kate Balance
SQUAD – Aine Nangle, Aine Rutley, Aisling Field, Aisling Williams, Aiyisa Azali, Alannah Boyle, Ama Addo, Amy O’Mahony, Anna Bidgood, Anna Brencock, Aoife Byrne, Ava Kavanagh, Caoimhe Hunt, Cathy Murphy, Christina Furlong, Dawn Keegan, Eadaoin Murtagh, Ellie Meade, Emma Buckley, Emma Kelly, Eva Sterritt, Finola Collins, Grace Tutty, Hannah Rapley, Hannah Wilson, Jade Gaffney, Jan Carroll, Kate Balance, Katie Layde, Laura Carty, Lesley Ring, Lucy Egan, Melissa Hayden, Minnona Nunstedt, Niamh O’Dowd, Orlaith McAuliffe, Rachel Murphy, Rachel Winters, Sarah Armstrong, Sophie Lyons, Vanessa Hullon, Wren Higgins.
PORT DARA FALCONS
COACHES – Cormac Smith, Richard Coen, Paddy Behan, Kim Tully (manager)
CAPTAIN – Kate Tynan
SQUAD – Afric Doyle, Alex Pop, Amy Dempsey, Andrea Fitzpatrick, Aoife O’Donovan, Ava Banahan, Blathnaid Smith, Celeste Cannon, Chloe Ready, Claire Buggy, Eve Kehoe, Evie Dickinson, Fiona Blood, Francie Fitzpatrick, Hannah Kearon, Hannah Mulcahy, Karina McLoughlin, Kate Tynan, Katie Kelleghan, Laura Oakley, Leanne Caulfield, Lorna Buckley, Lorraine Byrne, Louise Scully, Mairead Scully, Michelle Maher, Niamh O’Neill, Nicky Mahoney, Orla O’Donovan, Rebecca Rowe, Ruth Downey, Ruth Whittle, Sinead O’Rourke, Sissy Weiss.
PORTLAOISE
COACHES – Tyrone Elliott, Mark Sky, Richard Smith (Manager).
CAPTAIN – Rebecca Mullen.
SQUAD – Rebecca Mullen, Rachel Murphy, Emma Brophy, Hayley Fitzgibbon, Rachel Palmer, Ava Corcoran, Sandra Keegan, Kim Fitzpatrick, Holly Murtagh, Jennifer Keegan, Aoife Heke Walshe, Maider Ormazabal, Rosie Palmer, Yvonne Palmer, Aoibhinn Egan, Sarah Breslin, Emma Smith, Jorja Mullen, Jade Laffan, Therese McEvoy, Hannah Schiller, Aoife Bartley.
RAILWAY UNION
COACHES – Blaise Kenny, Jude Cleary (head coaches), John Cronin, Larrisa Muldoon, Mike South, Rachel Hegarty (S&C).
CAPTAIN – Claire Byrne.
SQUAD – Aimee Clarke, Alais Diebold, Chisom Ugwueru, Claire Byrne, Daisy Earle, Dani Franada, Darra O’Loughlin, Deirdre Roberts, Emerson Allen, Emma Fabby, Hazel Simmons, Isobel Clerk, Jen Wark, Kirstie Stevenson, Lauren Cooper, Lorraine Parisot, Meabh Keegan, Michaela Johnston O’Neill, Megan Collis, Molly Boyne, Niamh Scally, Orla Hayes, Pia Simmons, Rebecca Draper, Sarah Bradley, Sarah Browne, Sarah Emerson.
TULLAMORE
COACHES – Demot Tierney (head coach), Richie Hughes, Dave Clavin, Mike Tormey, Glen Bagnall (S&C), Chloe McMahon (physio), Emer Phelan (Manager).
CAPTAIN – Ann Maree Manley.
SQUAD – Caroline Aherne, Rachel Conroy, Sinead Rigney, Shannon Tuohey, Clare Leonard, Kate McCann, Abaigeal Connon, Eve Tarpey, Catriona Kielty, Sarah Jane O’Connor, Anne Maree Manley, Saoirse Quinn, Kate Fox, Niamh Hickey, Hannah Fox, Ebony Hogan, Chantel Minnock, Laura Sampson, Caoimhe Guinan, Ciara Dunne, Ellie Flanagan, Elaine McElduff, Aoibhe Kelly.
TULLOW
COACHES – Paul Canavan, Keiaho Bloomfield, Cora Browne (Manager).
CAPTAIN – Lana Brennan.
SQUAD – Joanna Mahon, Courtney Kelly, Anne Marie Meaney, Anna O’Neill, Orla Hanlon, Grace Kelly, Aoife Byrne, Michelle Faulkner, Lana Brennan, Alex O’Brien, Ciara O’Dwyer, Katie O’Brien, Clare O’Sè, Aoife McGrath, Catherine Dempsey, Chloe Farrell, Roisin O’Toole, Lisa O’Toole, Emma O’Toole, Jane O’Neill, Alice Carroll, Meghan Hickey, Leanne Savage, Niamh Bailey.
