IRRESPECTIVE of the outcome of their meeting with Leinster at Donnybrook on Saturday (4.45pm, live TG4), holders Munster are already through to the Women’s Inter-provincial Championship Final on September 2.
For this weekend’s fixture, Munster coach Niamh Briggs has made four changes to the starting XV which earned a 46-7 win over Connacht as Aoife Corey, Ellen Boylan, Claire Bennett and Jane Clohessy come into the starting side.
Corey returns to the matchday squad after starting for Munster in Round 1 against Ulster while Boylan and Clohessy are in line for their first starts for the province. Bennett will be making her first start of this season’s campaign.
The front-row remains unchanged as Róisín Ormond packs down alongside Ciara Farrell and Fiona Reidy. Captain Dorothy Wall continues in the second-row where she is joined by Claire Bennett.
The back-row consists of Jane Clohessy, Maeve Óg O’Leary and Deirbhile Nic a Bháird.
There is a settled look to the half-backs and centres with Muirne Wall and Kate Flannery partnering at scrum-half and out-half while Stephanie Nunan and Alana McInerney line out at inside-centre and outside-centre.
In the back-three, Stephanie Carroll keeps her place on the left wing while Ellen Boylan and Aoife Corey come into the side at right wing and full-back.
Eimear Considine and Aoife Doyle miss out this weekend due to minor knocks picked up in the win against Connacht.
Gillian Coombes returns to the matchday squad with a place on the bench while Nicole Cronin is in line to make her first appearance of this campaign having successfully recovered from a leg injury.
Aoibhe O’Flynn is in line for her debut from the bench.
Munster: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian); Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian), Stephanie Carroll (Railway Union); Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian); Róisín Ormond (Ballincollig), Ciara Farrell (UL Bohemian), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian); Dorothy Wall, captain, (Blackrock College), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian); Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere).
Replacements: Beth Buttimer (Fethard/Carrick-on-Suir/Thurles), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian), Gillian Coombes (Ballincollig), Clodagh O’Halloran (UL Bohemian), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian), Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian).
