Munster retained the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship with a 14-5 final win over Leinster at Dexcom Stadium in Galway, claiming a record 17th title.
Beth Buttimer scored both Munster tries in a final decided by pressure defence and one late, decisive maul. The hooker's first try gave Munster a 7-0 lead before Kathy Baker replied for Leinster, leaving the champions 7-5 ahead at half-time.
A final decided in the hard yards
Leinster had territory and chances after the break, but Munster held the line. Erin King was stopped close to the tryline during a spell of Leinster pressure, and the champions kept finding a way out of their own 22.
Buttimer's second try came from the back of a rolling maul with 10 minutes left. Enya Breen added the conversion to turn a four-point contest into a nine-point lead.
Munster had to defend with 14 players early after Breen was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. They survived that period, settled into the match and made their scrum and maul count when the final tightened.
Buttimer gives Ireland a selection question
Buttimer finished the championship with eight tries, according to RTÉ. The 2026 title was won by a team that trusted its pack and defended with patience, but her finishing is the story that will travel furthest from Galway.
Ireland's WXV Global Series opener against the USA is three weeks away. The next squad conversation has already acquired a very sharp hook.
Reporting: Munster Rugby, RTÉ Sport