Wolfhounds beat Clovers to retain Celtic Challenge

Celtic Challenge final

Wolfhounds 50 (19)

Tries: Elmes Kinland (2), Linda Djougang (2), King (2), Og O'Leary, Molloy Cons: O'Brien (5)

Clovers 29 (17)

Tries: Murphy, Cahill (2), Parsons (2) Cons: Breen (2)

The Irish Wolfhounds retained the Celtic Challenge crown for a third year in a row after a 50-29 win over Clovers at the Hive Stadium.

It was a tight opening 40 minutes with first-half doubles from Linda Djougang and Eilish Cahill.

However, Neill Alcorn's side pushed ahead in a dominant final 20 minutes to seal the silverware once again.

The Wolfhounds won nine of their 10 games on their way to the inaugural Celtic Challenge final in the first year of the new play-off system in the competition.

Good build-up from the Clovers' Aoife Corey resulted in the first try of the afternoon after she passed to Niamh Murphy for an easy run-in after four minutes.

Neill Alcorn's side responded through Vicki Elmes Kinland, but Dannah O'Brien couldn't add the conversion.

Prop Djougang crossed over from a ruck and O'Brien added the conversion to give the Wolfhounds the lead for the first time before Ailish Quinn was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin-bin.

The defending champions took advantage of the extra player with Djougang able to hold off Jemma Adam Verling and cross over and O'Brien adding the extra two.

However, just as it looked like the Wolfhounds were pulling ahead with their 19-7 lead, the Clovers responded.

Substitute Cahill, who was brought on for the injured Sadhbh McGrath, closed the gap to just two points with two tries from rucks, but Enya Breen couldn't add the extra points on either occasion.

Just like in the first half, the Clovers scored early after the restart with Ailish Quinn brought down just short of the line but Beibhinn Parsons on hand score the first try of the second period.

Erin King edged her side ahead when she charged through the middle and O'Brien able to add the extra two.

Elmes Kinlan registered her second try when she noticed space and touched down just after the hour mark.

Maeve Og O'Leary then took advantage of a mistake from a Clovers kick and used her strength for a superb solo try, the Wolfhounds sixth of the game.

King's second try of the second half extended the reigning champions advantage further before O'Brien made it 43-22.

Jade Gaffney dispatched across to Caoimhe Molloy in space for an impressive eight try for the Wolfhounds before Clovers registered a late try of their own through Parsons.

Wolfhounds: Flood; O'Connor, Dalton (capt), Higgins, Kinlan; O'Brien, Connor; Djougang, Daley, Barrett, Jordan, Smyth, Tuite, Corcoran, King

Replacements: Delaney, Wilson, Molloy, Og O'Leary, Casey, Gaffney, Moyles, Larn

Clovers: Corey; McGann, McInerney, Murphy, Parsons; Breen, Lane; McCarthy, Dunican, A McGrath, Campbell (capt), S McGrath, Dunican, McCarthy

Replacements: Fleming, Burke, Cahill, O'Flynn, Oviawe, Whelan, Flannery, Linn