Deely seals historic win with late try

Leinster 17

Ireland international Méabh Deely scored a stunning injury-time try i the Sportsground on Saturday to see Connacht snatch a last-gasp win against Leinster on the opening weekend of the women’s interpros.

The home side had led 8-5 at the break, thanks to a second-minute try from Deely, but Leinster rallied in the second half with two tries in a seven-minute spell, and despite Orla Dixon crossing for the home side’s second try, the visitors looked set for the win.

However, there was to be a thrilling end to the game when Deely sent Clara Barrett away down the right-hand touchline, before following up in support, and Barret off-loaded in the tackle to see Deely race the five metres to the try line unscathed to touch down.

Nicole Fowley was unsuccessful with the conversion, and the drama was still not over as the visitors went back on the attack, and they were handed a chance to grab the win when award a penalty seven minutes into injury-time, but Leinster captain, Hannah O’Connor, was unable to convert from the tee as the home side held on for the win.

Connacht came into the game looking for just a second-ever women’s interpro victory over Leinster – back in Tuam in December 2016 – and they got off to a flying start when scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly attacked off a ruck inside halfway before feeding Deely to race over form 10 metres.

Fowley missed the conversion from the left, but she landed a penalty on the half-hour mark to send her side into the break with an 8-5 lead, with Leinster’s try coming in the 15th minute from Eimear Corri.

Pictured: Meabh Deely breaks through the tackle of Leinster's Katie Whelan to open the scoring for Connacht in the Sportsground last Saturday. Photos: Joe O'Shaughnessy.