UL Bohemians ladies conclude treble winning season.

UL Bohemians are the All Ireland Cup Champions following a severe test from a game Blackrock side at Dubarry Park Athlone yesterday emerging 26-17 winners.

The All Ireland Cup now sits in the trophy cabinet alongside the Munster Senior Cup and All Ireland league trophy.

UL got of to a great start when in the 14th minute, winger Liz Bourke went over in the corner for Bohs first try and to give which was converted by Edel Murphy to give the Limerick side a 7-0 lead.

Continued pressure on the Blackrock line resulted in a second try almost five minutes later when Sarah Hartigan crossed for a well worked try which Murphy again converted for a 14-0 lead.

Blackrock were staring down the barrel of a 14-0 deficit and need to respond quickly. They did just that with Eimear Corri going on a blistering run down the wing and outpacing the Bohs cover to score the Dublin side’s first try.

The conversion was missed meaning Bohs carried a 14-5 lead into the break.

The Limerick side came out after the break on a mission and extended their lead three minutes into the second half when Number 8 Chloe Pearse got posession of the ball and breached the Blackrock line. Murphy once again converted the kick to put her side 16 points up.

The out half was excellent from the tee and keep adding ether extras. I mean that the game was now beyond two converted tries.

Blackrock again responded as Carmela Morey got her side second try of the game in the 5oth minute. The conversion was missed meaning the Dublin side still trailed by eleven.

Liz Bourke grabbed her second try of the match for UL Bohemians when she crossed over the white line in the 63rd minute yet again extending the lead to 26-10.

Blackrock did not give in and grabbed a try through Niamh Griffin which was converted by Michelle Claffey. But it was to0 late for the Dublin team as the final whistle blew and UL Bohemians were now All Ireland Cup Champions.

In truth Blackrock could never make the required inroads into the Bohs lead to put them under enough pressure. A 14-0 lead to the League champions was a fatal error.

For Bohs and their coaching team, it represents the culmination of a fantastic season in which they only lost one competitive fixture to Railway Union.

Mike Storey had stressed throughout the las few weeks that they would simply take it one day at the time. That’s easier said than done but they managed it.

Not only did they manage to keep the focus and concentration in check but also to keep the bodies fresh enough to win trophy available to them this year.

For that, the coaches, players and all involved in the effort deserve huge credit.

Now time to relax and enjoy a well earned break.