O'Connor scores five as Leinster hammer Ulster

Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship

Ulster (5) 5

Tries: McKinley

Leinster (33) 75

Tries: O'Connor 5, Elmes Kinlan, Whelan 3, Campbell, Gibson Con: O'Sullivan Sexton 10

Leinster booked their place in the Women's Interprovincial Championship final with a ruthless 75-5 victory over Ulster at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast.

Ireland international Robyn O'Connor scored five of the visitor's 11 tries, including three in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Team-mate Katie Whelan completed her own hat-trick early in the second half to inflict a second consecutive heavy defeat on Murray Houston's hosts after last weekend's 62-0 loss to Munster.

Leinster will now face reigning champions Munster in the final on Saturday, 29 August.

Leinster's cohort of Ireland internationals showed clear intent from the off with a brilliant break from Aoife Dalton allowing Stacey Flood to put O'Connor over for her first try after only two minutes.

Flood continued to work her magic and sent the ball to the left wing where Vicky Elmes Kinlan extended their lead to 12-0 eight minutes in.

Ulster did not let their heads dip and they responded quickly, with Olivia McKinley taking a quick tap from a penalty at the five-metre line and sneaking over for her first senior try.

However, the Blues proved too strong and had a swift and strong response through a pair of O'Connor tries that brough up the bonus point within 20 minutes.

On a roll, Leinster worked through the phases and scrum-half Whelan went over for try number five before half time.

Whelan started the second half as she finished the first, her second of try of the day coming after she intercepted a pass by Ella Durkan and accelerated from halfway.

The scrum-half continued to shine and went storming through the Ulster defence to finish her hat-trick just 10 minutes later.

Despite the commanding lead, Leinster continued to put Ulster under pressure with back to back tries from player of the match Ruth Campbell and O'Connor.

Nikki Gibson crossed for Leinster's 10th try, but it was fittingly O'Connor who had the final say as Dalton and Flood sent the ball to the wing to allow the international wing to ground her fifth try of the game.

Ulster will aim to regroup as they prepare for their 3rd/4th place play-off against Connacht at Dexcom Stadium.

Ulster: Niamh Marley; Caitlin Crowe, Leah Irwin, Siobhan Sheerin, Lucy Thompson; Ella Durkan, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett; Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Olivia McKinley; Moya Hill, Rebecca Beacom, Claire Boles (capt).

Replacements: Emily Whittle, Bronagh Cassidy, Grace Simati, Christy Hill, Stacey Sloan, Georgia Boyce, Katie Gilmour, Abby Moyles.

Leinster: Stacey Flood; Robyn O'Connor, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins; Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton, Katie Whelan; Caoimhe Molloy, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Alma Atagamen; Regan Casey, Kathy Baker, Erin King.

Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Hannah Wilson, Hope Lowney, Kate Jordan, Nikki Gibson, Alex Connor, Niamh Murphy, Amy Larn.