Connacht beat Ulster after Hogan red card

Connacht secured a third place finish in the Women's Interprovincial Championship with a 33-19 win over Ulster in Belfast.

The northern province would play for more than half the game with 14 players after captain Brittany Hogan was sent off in the 32nd minute for what was deemed a dangerous tackle when here side were leading 7-0.

Despite the red card, Murray Houston's side were level going into the game's last ten minutes only for late scores from the impressive Faith Oviawe and Beibhinn Gleeson to ensure victory for the westerners.

Having stormed back from 14 points down to snatch a draw against the same opposition only two weeks ago, Ulster will have come into the game with confidence and made a good start.

Seeking an early lead, Abby Moyles' penalty came back off the post but they were soon back on the front foot and were rewarded when new Ireland call-up Sophie Barrett crashed over from close range.

Oviawe, who had a strong game when these sides met a fortnight ago, was again causing problems for Ulster, however.

Lauren Farrell-McCabe was required to make one last ditch tackle on the lock and the visitors went even closer 13 minutes before the turn when Meabh Deely sliced through the Ulster line off Nicole Fowley's pass only to drop the ball when grounding over the line.

The game turned when Ulster lost their skipper, who again had been their dominant performer up to that point, to a red card. Things went from bad to worse for Murray Houston's side when they were temporarily reduced to 13 soon after.

Lucinda Kinghan was shown a yellow card after being adjudged to have committed a cynical transgression close to her own line and Edel McMahon took advantage of Ulster's reduced numbers to get Connacht on the board.

At that stage, Ulster would have aimed to get to half-time level but they were turned over at the line-out with Orla Dixon's break bringing Connacht into opposition territory as the clock went red and Oviawe's strong finish ensured Connacht went took a lead into the turn.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Ulster would score the first try of the second half with Moyles the fortunate recipient of the ball as it popped loose when Maebh Clenaghan stretched for the whitewash.

Connacht struck back when Meabh Deely's fantastic offload put Hannah Clarke into space. Although there was still plenty for the winger to do, her chip and chase was expertly executed to score in the corner.

Ulster were not done yet, however. Moyles showed an excellent eye for a gap, cutting back against the grain to dart over, and converted her own score to level the game as the contest entered its final quarter.

In the final ten minutes, Connacht's extra player finally told with Oviawe going over untouched when her side found numbers out wide before, in the final act of the game, Gleeson's crossed from close range.

Ulster: Farrell-McCabe; Thompson, Martin, Kinghan, Edwards; Moyles, McIlroy; Fannin, Daley, Barrett; Barr, O'Kane; Hill, Clenaghan, Hogan.

Replacements: Hill, Cassidy, Brodie, Patterson, Sloan, Smyth, Patterson, McAlister.

Connacht: Deely; Ryder, Dixon, Purcell, Clarke; Fowley, Moran; Burns, Brady, Collis; Oviawe, Browne Moran; Gleeson, McMahon, Touhey.

Replacements: Hanley, Connolly, Maher, Garvery, Fenton, Goulding, Nic Dhonnacha, Foley.