Meath women show italian style

Marie Louise Reilly from Summerhill and Jackie Shiels from Navan both featured for Ireland in last night’s opening round Women’s Six Nations victory against Italy in Florence at the Stadio Mario Lodigiani.

The Irish women won the game convincingly by 30-5 as new manager Tom Tierney made a good start to his first competitive game in charge.

Ireland were without another Meath woman, Grace Davitt, who retired from international rugby last year after featuring prominently for many years as the women’s game make great progress.

Newly-appointed captain Niamh Briggs, who was also the player-of-the-match, converted her own try for a 7-0 half-time lead.

Referee Sara Cox awarded a string of consecutive penalties to Ireland due to the persistent infringements around the ruck from Italy.

Second-half saw Ireland tries from Paula Fitzpatrick (two), Jenny Murphy and Heather O’Brien, all unconverted, and a Briggs penalty.

Ireland will tackle France next weekend in Ashbourne and that will give local supporters a chnace to get behind the team and the Meath girls.