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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Sadhbh McGrath of Clovers during the Celtic Challenge match
Burt native Sadhbh McGrath captained the Clovers to their first Celtic Challenge win on Sunday as they got the better of Wales’ Brython Thunder on a 20-5 scoreline at Energia Park in Donnybrook.
Second-half tries from Ruth Campbell and 19-year-old McGrath, who took on the captaincy role in the absence of Dorothy Wall and impressed in front of Ireland head coach Scott Bemand, saw Denis Fogarty’s young side take the verdict, which was topped off by Méabh Deely’s 80th-minute penalty.
Ailsa Hughes and Brython Thunder captain Alex Callender swapped unconverted tries during a tightly first half, which saw the Clovers establish scrum superiority but a number of line breaks went unrewarded.
There was a yellow card each for Michelle O’Driscoll and Rosie Carr before the hosts pulled clear through Campbell and McGrath, while Deely contributed five points from the kicking tee.
Callender, lively replacement Meg Davies and number 8 Shona Wakley stood out for the Thunder, but the Clovers, who entertain Gwalia Lightning at Musgrave Park next Sunday, had the player-of-the-match in ultra-efficient flanker Ivana Kiripati.
Clovers: Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster); Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Michelle O’Driscoll (Ballincollig RFC/Munster), Kayla Waldron (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster); Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster); Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) (capt), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Faith Oviawe (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht), Shannon Touhey (Tullamore RFC/Connacht).
Replacements: Lily Brady (UL Bohemian RFC/Connacht), Róisín Ormond (Ballincollig RFC/Munster), Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Claire Bennett (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Jane Neill (Galwegians RFC/Leinster), Abbie Salter-Townshend (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Clara Barrett (UL Bohemian RFC/Connacht).
Referee: Michael Forrestal (IRFU)
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