Celtic Challenge Final preview: Can Wolfhounds make it three in a row?

Irish teams have dominated the Celtic Challenge since the competition began and this Saturday a side from Ireland will once again be picking up the silverware.

Wolfhounds and Clovers finished first and second in the regular season standings this term and only lost three games out of 20 between them.

They then took that form into the semi-finals last weekend to see off Welsh sides Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning respectively with two convincing wins, which means they will now meet in the final on Saturday 28th March, 15:00 kick-off, at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.

It’ll be four Irish winners in four seasons of the Celtic Challenge and Wolfhounds are looking to make it three triumphs on the trot. Whoever wins it will be an intriguing clash with the Women’s Six Nations approaching and players tussling for match day spots on the team sheet.

When the inaugural event was played back in 2022/23, an Irish Combined Provinces XV topped the three-team standings. That playing of the event was the precursor to what we have now and since 2023/24, two sides each from Ireland, Wales and Scotland have been involved as the competition has grown and grown in stature.

This season Wolfhounds have looked unstoppable until round eight of 10 in the regular campaign when Brython stopped them in their tracks with a shock 14-0 win in Wales.

That proved to be just a blip though and two more wins saw Wolfhounds finish on 45 out of a possible 50 points with nine bonus point wins from 10 which was then followed up by a 36-10 revenge semi-final win at home versus Brython.

Clovers finished on 39 points after eight wins from 10 before their 35-20 home last four triumph over Gwalia.

The two games Clovers lost? Well, they were against Wolfhounds. This arguably makes Clovers the favourites heading into this weekend’s final.

In early January in Galway, Wolfhounds scored tries through captain Aoife Dalton, Robyn O’Connor, Maggie Boylan and Eve Higgins with two converted to win 24-7 with a bonus point. It was a home game for Clovers at The Green in Galway, and their only points came through a converted try from Jemima Adams Verling.

That was in round two of regular season action and then, in round 10, Wolfhounds, who were still hurting from their Brython reverse, made a bit of a statement.

At the UCD Bowl in Dublin, with Ireland international stand-off Dannah O’Brien pulling the strings, Wolfhounds burst into a 36-0 half-time lead and won 43-20 in the end.

Grace Moore, India Daley (2), Niamh Marley, Erin King (2) and Robyn O’Connor scored tries for the victors that day at home with Béibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann (2) and Katie Whelan crossing for Clovers to get them a four-try bonus point.

There is a lot of talent in both squads so who should we be looking out for on Saturday and what could make the difference?

Behind the scrum, Ireland Women’s Six Nations squad members Stacey Flood at full-back, skipper Aiofe Dalton at centre and stand-off Dannah O’Brien have been excellent of late for head coach Neill Alcorn’s Wolfhounds in a team that has scored 446 points in 11 games to date.

Up front, uncapped tighthead prop Sophie Barrett has earned a place in the recently named Ireland squad and she plays in a Wolfhounds pack that includes new international captain Erin King at number eight and the powerful Fiona Tuite at six.

For a Clovers side that has scored 329 points in 11 games so far, uncapped centre Alana McInerney has made it into the Six Nations training group and has been in fine form including scoring two tries in their semi-final. Ireland caps Béibhinn Parsons and Anna McGann have pace to burn on the wings and having seen what they can do on the international stage- an exciting afternoon awaits.

Up front, Jemima Adams Verling, an uncapped member of the Six Nations squad, is a big ball carrier at eight and captain Ruth Campbell in the second-row and Sadhbh McGrath at tighthead prop will be key for head coach Denis Fogarty’s charges as they look to stop Wolfhounds adding a third straight title to their credentials.