Molloy shines in magnificent Irish victory
GALWAY City’s Claire Molloy was once again to the fore as Ireland women’s rugby team created another piece of history when registering a superb victory over reigning champions New Zealand at the World Cup finals in Paris on Tuesday.
Philip Doyle’s Ireland, which claimed both Grand Slam and Six Nations titles for the first time ever in 2013, defeated the Black Ferns 17-14 in their second Pool B tie – a noteworthy feat given New Zealand had been on an unbeaten 20-match World Cup run since the 1991 semi-finals.
Openside flanker Molloy, whose contribution to the cause has been described as “industrious”, and Ireland were not unfazed by their first ever meeting against the Southern Hemisphere queens and they showed superb character to overturn an 8-7 interval deficit.
The pivotal scores were tries in each half by Highfield No. 8 Heather O’Brien and Portlaoise winger Alison Miller, who plays her inter-provincial rugby with Connacht, with Miller’s try, along with Niamh Briggs subsequent conversion, securing Ireland a 14-11 lead on 60 minutes.
While a Kelly Brazier penalty hauled New Zealand back on level terms, a Briggs effort 10 minutes from time was enough to secure Ireland an historic win in Marcoussis. Victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday will see them top the group and, more importantly, book their place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Ireland, though, had set their stall out at the outset and with 26-year-old Molloy driving on the pack, the former Galway ladies footballer executed two big hits on opponents to force New Zealand to knock on. The scene was being set.
Certainly, Molloy’s contribution to Ireland women’s rugby has been immense since she first turned her hand to the sport when she began attending Cardiff University in 2008. In addition to Grand Slam and Six Nations honours, she now appears at her second World Cup event.
The former Galwegians player has also captained the Ireland Sevens team in the past and in 2012 she guided Ireland’s Sevens rugby side safely through the initial qualification stage in Belgium in their bid for the 2013 World Cup in Moscow.
Full report in this week's City Tribune.