Deirbhile Nic a Bháird shines as Munster rout Ulster

Munster 34-0 Ulster

Deirbhile Nic a Bháird delivered a stellar player-of-the-match performance as Munster kicked off their Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship title defence with a 34-0 bonus point win over Ulster.

The Ballincollig native excelled for Old Belvedere during the Energia All-Ireland League, and her all-action display here at Musgrave Park saw her pick up two tries, make a series of rampaging runs, and also switch from number 8 to hooker for the second half.

The driving wind and rain made conditions especially difficult, but it took Munster just 31 minutes to register their bonus point thanks to tries from Nic a Bháird, Stephanie Nunan, Aoife Doyle and Claire Bennett.

With 22 points the difference at half-time, Ulster had it all to do and they did take some positives from the game with Ella Durkan playing well at out-half and their scrum recovering from a shaky start.

Despite losing captain Nicole Cronin to injury and the visitors improving in the second half, Munster's all-international back row of Nic a Bhaird, Dorothy Wall and Maeve Óg O'Leary were too much for the visitors to handle.

Lock Bennett, who plunged over from a lineout maul, and Nic a Bháird completed their braces to close out a productive first competitive outing for Munster under new head coach Niamh Briggs.

Reigning champs Munster are off the mark.#WomensInterpros | #NothingLikeIt pic.twitter.com/twxSPnWuMk

Munster: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC), Stephanie Nunan (UL Bohemian RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC), Laura Sheehan (Exeter Chiefs); Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC) (capt), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC); Róisín Ormond (Ballincollig RFC), Kate Sheehan (UL Bohemian RFC), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian