Women’s Interprovincial Championship: Ulster 25-25 Connacht – Ulster fight back to claim draw against Connacht

Five minutes before the break, Faith Oviawe ran in a try from her own half in what was a fine individual effort, even if Ulster would again be disappointed by their tackling in the build-up.

Breakdown steals from Tara O’Neill and India Daley gave Ulster opportunities to counter, but they would go in at the turn trailing 10-6.

But the second half started much the same as the first had ended with Laoise McGonagle finishing off in the corner after another sharp interchange of passes from the visitors.

Ulster were in urgent need of a response and got one from Lucy Thompson who burst through a gap and did brilliantly to avoid putting a foot in touch on her way over the line.

After an Ulster knock on from their own scrum, Connacht produced a pre-planned move that saw Deely cut through the Ulster line to cross for her second score with just under half an hour left.

With player of the match Hogan increasingly to the fore, and Vicky Irwin bringing a spark from the bench, India Daley barged over from close range with seven minutes remaining and Irwin’s conversion brought Ulster back within a score to set up the dramatic finale.

It was Irwin’s break and kick ahead that brought the hosts straight back into Connacht territory with strong carrying from Daley preceding Stacey Sloan driving over the line and finishing strongly as Connacht attempted to get underneath the ball.

With only 90 seconds on the clock and the game on the line, the conversion was no foregone conclusion but again Irwin made no mistake from the tee to ensure a share of the spoils.

Ulster, with four points from their two games played, will take on Leinster next weekend.

Ulster: Farrell-McCabe; Thompson, Martin, O’Neill, McAlister; Moyles, Dane (captain); Cassidy, Daley, Barrett; Barr, O’Kane; Hill, Clenaghan, Hogan.

Replacements: Hill, Brodie, Fannin, McCamley, Sloan, McIlroy, Smyth, Irwin.

Connacht: Deely; Clarke, Dixon, Nic Dhonnacha, McGonagle; Fowley (co-captain), Moran; Burns, Brady, Collis; Tierney, Browne-Moran; Oviawe, Gleeson, Touhey (co-captain)

Replacements: Hanley, Lowney, Maher, Adams-Verling, Searle, Goulding, Ryder, Bush.