FIVE Ulster players figure in the sides named for the second installment of Wolfhounds v Clovers in Round 2 of the Celtic Challenge at UCD on Saturday (12 noon).
The Ulster/Leinster Wolfhounds head coach Neil Alcorn has retained the same starting XV for the second of the seasonal derby matches. The Wolfhounds won the opening round by 33-7 building on a halftime lead of 14-7 to pull away from their provincial opponents.
That means Ulster’s Claire Boles continues as captain with Maebh Clenaghan also in the starting line-up and Lucinda Kinghan among the replacements. Sadhbh McGrath comes into a Clovers team showing three changes while Sophie Barrett is named among the Clovers replacements.
Dual 7s and 15s star Stacey Flood, who scored one try and set up two more in that win, again starts at fullback for the Wolfhounds with Vicky Elmes Kinlan and try scorer Amy Larn on the wings.
The international centre partnership of Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are joined by Dannah O’Brien and Katie Whelan at 9 and 10.
Up front international props Niamh O’Dwyer and Linda Djougang pack down either side of Maebh Clenaghan with Alma Atagamen and Poppy Garvey continuing in the second row.
The back row sees Molly Boyne, captain Claire Boles and Erin King named to start.
In the replacements Lucinda Kinghan comes in as the only change.
Clovers head coachDenis Fogarty has made three changes to the starting XV from the opening game with Ireland international Sadhbh McGrath coming into the front row alongside Siobhán McCarthy and Beth Buttimer.
Ruth Campbell and Jane Neill continue their second-row partnership while the second changes sees Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon join Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Ivana Kiripati in the back row.
The third change sees Hannah Clarke move to the left wing with Alana McInerney named on the right wing and Meabh Deely at fullback.
Emily Lane and Nicole Fowley are again named at 9 and 10 respectively with captain Enya Breen and Ellen Boylan in the centre.
In the replacements Emily Gavin will be hoping for her first start in the tournament.
Wolfhounds Team & Replacements
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
14. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow/Leinster)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union)
11. Amy Larn (Athy/Leinster)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
2. Maebh Clenaghan (Queens/Cooke/Ulster)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan/Leinster)
5. Poppy Garvey (Railway Union/Connacht)
6. Molly Boyne (Railway Union/Leinster)
7. Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) Captain
8. Erin King (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Kelly Burke (Mullingar/Leinster)
17. Tricia Doyle (Railway Union/Leinster)
18. Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow/Leinster)
19. Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair (Blackrock College/Leinster)
20. Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union/Ulster)
21. Erin McConnell (Wicklow/Leinster)
22. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
23. Megan Burns (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Clovers Team & Replacements
15. Meabh Deely (Blackrock College/Connacht)
14. Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian/Munster)
13. Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College/Munster)
12. Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster) Captain
11. Hannah Clarke (Galwegians/Connacht)
10. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
9. Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster)
1. Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union/Munster)
2. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian/Munster)
3. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Jane Neill (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
7. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
8. Ivana Kiripati (Creggs/Connacht)
Replacements
16. Emily Gavin (Emily Gavin/Connacht)
17. Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian/Munster)
18. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster)
19. Faith Oviawe (Railway Union/Connacht)
20. Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs/Connacht)
21. Grainne Moran (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
23. Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian/Munster)
Tickets are available here from ticketmaster.ieand the game is available on TG4, BBC, Rugby Pass TV and irishrugby+ platforms
