Rowland Phillips’ side went in at the interval with a two-point lead, after a try from captain Carys Phillips and a Kavanagh-Williams brace saw them bounce back from a 17-5 deficit.
However, second-half scores from Cliodhna Moloney and Sene Naoupu sealed a win for the visitors, with Wales failing to get the scoreboard ticking after the break, despite enjoying periods of dominating territory and possession.
Both sides now turn their attentions to the start of the Women’s Six Nations campaign in two weeks.
Wales were forced to make a late change on the bench, as Nia Elen Davies was ruled out and replaced by Katie Jenkins, who is a member of the development team for this year’s Six Nations.
The visitors opened the scoring with only four minutes on the clock, after a blistering run by outside half, Niamh Briggs, split the Welsh defence open, setting up a platform for her side to attack inside the 22. Ireland made the most of the numbers to the right hand side, allowing wing, Megan Williams, to squeeze in at the corner.
Briggs’ conversion was wide, but moments later she was back the tee, as Ireland touched down for their second try of the afternoon in stunning fashion.Â
A spilt ball in midfield gave the visitors space to counter and spread wide to wing Alison Miller, who broke down the left.
Miller found Alisa Hughes in support, and despite good pace shown by Wales’ Jade Knight to tackle her opposite number, the scrum half’s offload found Kim Flood who released centre Claire McLaughlin free to run in under the posts.
Briggs converted, but Wales struck back with venom, winning a penalty, allowing Robyn Wilkins to kick to the corner.Â
Ireland’s defence held firm for a number of phases on their own try-line, but the pressure and tempo of Wales’ attack eventually told as hooker Phillips forced her way over to put her side on the board.
Midway through the first half, the visitors were over for their third try, as a turnover deep inside the Wales half gave space for Briggs to find Miller with a cross-field kick, and the wing made no mistake to touch down in the corner.
A hack behind the Ireland defence found touch on the 5m line, pinning the visitors back deep in their own 22.Â
The ball was spilt in the air, allowing Wales’ Amy Evans to pick up the loose pieces, winning the turnover and putting her side on the attack within meters of the try-line.
The ball was spread wide to Kavanagh-Williams, who snuck her way under the posts, with Wilkins’ conversion closing the visitor’s lead to five points.
Another sensational move down the left-hand side almost saw Ireland pave their way through for a fourth try, but wing Hannah Bluck, who is in line to make her debut over the Six Nations campaign, recovered well to stop Claire Molloy with a try-saving tackle.
Wales took the lead for the first time on the verge of half time, after Wilkins caught the Ireland defence napping with a quick tap on the halfway mark.Â
Quick hands along the line released Kavanagh-Williams, who powered her way past opposite number Williams, and raced past the covering Hughes to slide in. Wilkins’ was on-target with a tricky conversion to push her side 19-17 ahead as the referee blew for half time.
Phillips’ side enjoyed the majority of possession and territory in the opening stages of the second half but struggled to break past a resolute Irish defence.
However, the visitors came back fighting, and it was Wales’ turn to face a period of sustained pressure.
With the clock ticking past the hour mark, Ireland scored the first points of the half to regain the lead, after a powerful drive from a 5m line-out saw Cliodhna Moloney touch down from the base.
Sene Naoupu’s conversion attempt was off-target, leaving the encounter wide open heading into the final 15 minutes.
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The power of the Irish pack continued to cause Wales a problem, and when the referee awarded a visitors a penalty from a 5m scrum, a quick tap by scrum-half Hughes created the opportunity for Naoupu to power over an extend her side’s lead to eight points.
