Connacht hoping to post back-to-back wins over Leinster in inter-pros
Winning last season may have made this season's task a bit harder says Connacht coach O'Dowd
Connacht coach Emer O’Dowd admits that while beating Leinster last season was brilliant it will make the task of meeting them for the first time since, in their opening Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship game, all the more difficult.
Theirs is a young squad and will be co-captained by veteran blindside flanker Shannon Touhey and Nicole Fowley from out-half.
Fowley, who showed her talent during the Six Nations campaign, is a proven calm operator under pressure while Maeve Deely who is also a senior Ireland international and will help anchor the side.
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"There's a lot of nervous excitement coming into round one and while we beat Leinster last season and there's no way they will want that to happen again," says O'Dowd.
"There are a lot of young players in this squad and they are excited about this challenge and we are expecting a reaction from Leinster.
"Trying to pick a match day squad is difficult for me as we're seeing this province grow with talent each year.
"The work being done at the clubs around the five counties needs to be mentioned. It is fantastic what they are doing and it comes down to great coaching and building a great environment for girls to shine.
"Training has been really good in the lead up. We have thrown a lot of detail at them, and everyone is bouncing and just raring to go.”
The game is the first of two away ties for the Westerners, this game followed by a trip to Ulster next weekend before the visit of Munster to Dexcom Stadium on Saturday 24th August (tickets for Conn-Mun game are on sale at connachtrugby.ie.)
Connacht: Meabh Deely; Laoise McGonagle, Ava Ryder, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha, Clara Barrett; Nicole Fowley (CC), Grainne Moran; Ella Burns, Lily Brady, Megan Collis, Orla Fenton, Rosie Searle, Beibhinn Gleeson, Lesley Ring, Shannon Touhey (CC),
Subs; Stacy Hanley, Ellen Connolly, Roisín Maher, Faith Oviawe, Karly Tierney, May Goulding, Orla Dixon, Emily Foley
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