Munster sides do the business on day one

It was a near-perfect day for Munster at three interprovincial tournaments around the country today, with five wins from a possible six – but tougher tests lie in wait tomorrow. The U21 women had the most profitable day at Grange Road, smashing 12 goals past Connacht and the South East. But there was a price to pay for Ger O’Carroll’s side, with both Aine Donegan and Fiona O’Connell brought to hospital. Donegan has a broken finger on her right hand but is still expected to take part tomorrow. But O’Connell has a badly sprained ankle, meaning her tournament is over, and she is also set to miss UCC’s league title playoff against Cork Harlequins next Sunday.

Coláiste na Toirbhirte schoolgirl Síle Johnson has been brought into the squad to replace the injured Kate Collins Smyth, but it was another forward, C of I’s Suzy Herbert, who caught the eye with three goals in two games. The first of those came when she opened the scoring on 13 minutes against the South East. Their lead was doubled a minute later by Ali O’Regan, who then made it three on 23 minutes. Goals either side from Laura Peters and Christine O’Shea completed the job. It was more of the same against Connacht, with Munster hitting six in the first half before running out 7-2 winners. Skipper Cliodhna Sargent claimed a hat-trick and Herbert got two, with O’Connell and Olivia Roycroft also on the scoresheet. Nonetheless, it is Ulster who are in the driving seat having also claimed two wins, with Hannah McMillan’s 11th-minute strike the vital intervention in a 1-0 win over Leinster, who had seen off Connacht 4-0 earlier in the day. Ulster also hit South East for six, with McMillan claiming a hat-trick, and a win against Munster tomorrow at 9am would allow them to put one hand on the title. Meanwhile, a Munster team put together at seriously short notice for the men’s junior interpros are now favourites to retain the title after wins over hosts Ulster and Connacht at Hillsborough today. Waterford man Chris Neville of Fingal played a starring role in both games, with Railway Union’s Mark Egner also having a good tournament. Stephen McMillan put Ulster ahead on 47 minutes after a goal-less first half in the opener, but Neville struck twice in six minutes – with Quins’ Tom Cotter grabbing one in between – to seal the deal. McMillan got one back with 60 seconds to setup a nervy finale, but Munster held on for a 3-2 win.

They also had to come from behind against Connacht, who hit the front on 35 minutes with a strike from Galway’s Barnaby Gaughan. But once again, a quickfire second-half blast – with four goals in 11 minutes – did the business for Munster. Mark Egner hauled them level on 48 minutes, before Neville thrust them in front four minutes later. Veteran Stuart Egner made it three on 56 minutes, before Mark finished the job on 59 to seal a 4-1 win. They now take on Leinster tomorrow knowing that a win will guarantee them the title, while a draw would leave Leinster needing  a four-goal win over Ulster to steal the crown from under their noses. However, there were mixed fortunes for the junior women’s team at their tournament in Jordanstown. Cathy Walsh’s sublime 13th-minute reverse finish was enough for a 1-0 win over the South East, but a 2-0 defeat to Connacht has left their hopes hanging by a thread. They must defeat Ulster at 12pm tomorrow to stand any chance, though the hosts showed they mean business by tonking South East 10-1 to ensure they wil be favourites for the title following a scoreless draw with Connacht today. Meanwhile, Southern Fried would also like to humbly doff its cap to Ray O’Connor, the finest umpire Ireland has ever produced, who retired today after 25 years of service. O’Connor umpired his last game this afternoon – a 5-0 win for Pembroke over Monkstown which saw them wrest back the Leinster title from Three Rock – to bring the curtain down on a glittering career which saw him take charge of two Olympic finals. The Hook has marked the occasion with an interview that’s well worth a read for hockey players, umpires and supporters alike.