Connacht Rugby Women head to Energia Park on Saturday with hopes of finishing the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship series on a high.
Having delivered a vital win over Ulster already, they now head to Dublin for a re-match in this third/fourth place decider (2pm ), while unbeaten Munster take on Leinster - the current champions - in the final (4.30pm ).
Connacht will want to finish in third place and they have the capabilities to do so, but they will be wary of their opponents who are hurting after completing their three fixtures without a win.
This season Connacht, with home advantage, delivered a 12-7 win over Ulster, who also conceded heavy losses to both Leinster and Munster. Connacht coach Emer O’Dowd will see this fixture as an opportunity for her ever-improving Connacht side to make a statement. Last weekend at Dexcom, they came ever so close to delivering another victory, but eventually conceded to Leinster in the 67th minute.
Until then, Connacht had looked the more spirited and effective, determined to repeat their win over Leinster two years previously. For long periods of the game at Dexcom Stadium, they looked likely to achieve that ambition of advancing to the final.
The home side enjoyed a promising opening 12 minutes before Orla Dixon delivered the try following strong carries from Hannah Clarke and Faith Oviawe before delivering the perfect pass to the outside centre to score - just reward for having dominated early possession and territory.
Leinster quickly followed suit and the home side defended well until the 21st minute when the visitors capitalised on a penalty, sent the ball to touch, and the strength of their forwards was rewarded when Kelly Burke eventually touched down, levelling the scores 5-5.
The home side continued to impose themselves and create chances, but they were unable to turn it into points until the 28th minute when Oviawe raced through from the 10m line to score, with Éabha Nic Dhonnacha converting.
Connacht, displaying great ball-handling skills, also needed to defend as Leinster grew into the game, picked up their pace, and started to find inroads; while Connacht lost a little composure particularly with their passing.
However, although Connacht had dominated possession and looked the more dangerous in attack, there were warning signs from Leinster, who had defended superbly in the opening half.
Connacht were not helped with the loss of Ailish Quinn to injury, and it was long into the second half before Leinster upped their physicality, particularly up front, and dominated the early stages, forcing Connacht on the back foot. The result was a penalty to touch. Captain Molly Boyne and replacement prop Kara Mulch added their weight, before prop Katie Lade forced her way over, to level the score after 52 minutes.
It was as sucker punch for Connacht who had dominated the opening half, and was made worse when they scorned another try scoring opportunity after 64 minutes - lacking a little composure in the face of Leinster’s defence.
As a result, the visitors seized their chance, delivering an end-to-end 67th minute try for Vicky Elmes Kinlan to put them in front for the first time and win the game by a score of 12-17.
