Cliodhna Moloney named on the bench as Scott Bemand makes one change for Wales

Cliodhna Moloney is in line to make her first Ireland appearance since November 2021, with the hooker named among the replacements for Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with Wales in Cork.

The Exeter Chiefs hooker was recalled to the wider squad last week by head coach Scott Bemand, just under two and a half years since winning the last of her 31 international caps.

Moloney was controversially dropped for the 2022 Six Nations, having publicly called out former women's director Anthony Eddy over comments he made following Ireland's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The Galway native replaces Sarah Delaney on the bench, who misses out with a shoulder injury.

The only change to the starting side for the meeting with Wales at Virgin Media Park sees Edel McMahon return to the side at flanker.

The co-captain had been left out of the Round 2 defeat to Italy, but comes in to replace Grace Moore, who misses out on the matchday 23.

The uncapped Shannon Ikahihifo (below), who came through the IQ Rugby (Irish qualified) programme, is named on the bench.

Full-back Lauren Delany is fit to start, despite being carted off injured in the recent defeat to Italy, while Béibhinn Parsons and Katie Corrigan go again on the wings.

Enya Breen retains her place at centre, where she partners Eve Higgins, while Aoife Dalton will provide cover off the bench.

The half-back pairing of Aoibheann Reilly and Dannah O'Brien is also retained for the visit of the Welsh.

As usual, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney pack down in the front row, supported by locks Dorothy Wall and Sam Monaghan, the latter of whom is co-captain.

McMahon comes back into the side at openside flanker, with Aoife Wafer shifting across to the blindside, and Brittany