Leah Lyons, Nicole Fowley and Chloe Pearse who all won their first caps for Ireland this month. (Pic: Irish Rugby)

Ballyhooly’s Leah Lyons collected her first cap with the Irish women’s rugby team in a narrow defeat against England this month, as part of the November Series in Dublin, and followed up a strong substitute appearance with a second cap in Ireland’s defeat against Canada last weekend. Ireland face yet another tough test against New Zealand on Sunday.

Former Irish international Mike Ross took to Twitter to congratulate Leah on her first cap: “Not bad for a small village like Ballyhooly, producing another international!”

Speaking to The Avondhu recently, Leah said her primary focus is on making the Ireland squad for next year’s World Cup, set to be held in Dublin and Belfast.