Rosemount's Kelly included in Leinster squad for Interpro series
Emma Kelly from Rosemount has been included in the Leinster rugby squad for the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Series which starts next Saturday, August 10.
A past pupil of Moate Community School, Kelly is a daughter of Siobhain and Damien Kelly. She is joined in the squad by another former Moate CS student, Aoife Dalton from Clara. Dalton has made a rapid rise through the rugby ranks in recent years and is an established Irish senior international.
Kelly is one of nine uncapped players in the Leinster squad - a group which also includes Mullingar RFC duo Ciara Faulkner and Katie Layde.
Rosemount native Kelly, a prominent footballer for Cill Óige and Westmeath, has featured in club rugby for Tullamore RFC and for Old Belvedere RFC in the All-Ireland League. Indeed, there are four Tullamore RFC players in the Leinster squad, with Ailsa Hughes and Laois native Leah Tarpey joining Kelly and Dalton.
Captained by Hannah O’Connor, Leinster are looking to retain the title they won in dramatic fashion by beating the then-reigning champions Munster in the 2023 final in Cork.
There are 35 players in the squad named by Leinster head coach Tania Rosser, plus an additional four development players who have been added to gain valuable experience.
Leinster begin the defence of their Interprovincial title at home to Connacht at Energia Park on Saturday (kick-off: 4.45pm)
Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship fixtures
Round 1 (Saturday, 10 August 10): Munster v Ulster, Virgin Media Park, kick-off 2.30pm; Leinster v Connacht, Energia Park, 4.45pm.
Round 2 (Saturday, August 17): Ulster v Connacht, Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm; Munster v Leinster, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm.
Round 3 (Saturday, August 24): Connacht v Munster, Dexcom Stadium, 2.30pm; Ulster v Leinster, Kingspan Stadium, 4.45pm.
Finals Day (Saturday, August 31) in Kingspan Stadium: 3rd v 4th place, 2.30pm; 1st v 2nd place, 4.45pm.
Leinster squad: Ailsa Hughes (Tullamore RFC/Railway RFC), Aimee Clarke (Railway Union RFC), Jemma Farrell (Old Belvedere RFC), Aoife Dalton (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Aoife Moore (Carrick-on-Suir RFC/Blackrock RFC), Aoife Wafer (Enniscorthy RFC & Gorey RFC/Blackrock RFC), Caoimhe Molloy (Gorey RFC/Wicklow RFC), Cara Martin (Navan RFC/Blackrock RFC), Clodagh Dunne (Gorey RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Dannah O’Brien (Tullow RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Eimear Corri (Portlaoise RFC/Blackrock RFC), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC), Emma Kelly (Tullamore RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Emma Tilly MU Barnhall RFC Old Belvedere), Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC), Hannah O'Connor (CYM Terenure RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Jane Neill (Arklow RFC/Galwegians RFC), Katie Layde (Mullingar RFC/Old Belevdere RFC), Katie Whelan (Enniscorthy RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Leah Tarpey (Tullamore RFC/Railway RFC), Linda Djougang (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Old Belvedere RFC, Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC), Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC), Nikki Caughey (Malone RFC/Railway Union RFC), Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Wexford Wanderers RFC), Ruth Campbell (MU Barnhall RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Sarah Delaney (PortDara Falcons RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Julia O’Connor (Suttonians RFC), Katie Corrigan (Tullow RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Faulkner (Mullingar RFC/MU Barnhall RFC), Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC/Old Belvedere RFC), Alice O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC), Andrea Murphy (Blackrock College RFC), Anna Doyle (Tullow RFC/Blackrock College RFC).
Development players: Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy RFC & Gorey RFC/Blackrock College RFC), Leah Kearney (Greystones RFC), Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (Mullingar RFC), Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Gorey RFC/Blackrock College RFC).