Leinster finally broke Ulster’s stranglehold on the Electric Ireland U18 Interprovincials and won the U16 competition too with a memorable double victory at Garryduff in Cork yesterday.
The northern province had won the last five titles at U18 level but Leinster picked off a perfect four wins from four to ensure the title will reside in the east.
They struggled to victory against the weaker Connacht and South East sides, recording 1-0 wins against both, but showed their worth with a crucial 2-1 victory over Ulster, underage international Amber Gleeson netting the winner.
Munster, coached by Kym Daly, held up their end of the bargain, Ursulines Thurles starlet Edel Nyland scoring five of their six goals as they beat South East (3-0) and Connacht (2-0) before being unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Ulster, who had goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran in inspired form.
It left a final-day showdown between the hosts and Leinster, but early goals from Sorcha Clarke and Gleeson took the wind out of Munster’s sails, and Leinster held on to win 2-0 in relative comfort.
The U16 tournament was a more complex affair, with Ulster looking the early favourites after hammering six first-half goals past South East on day one only to fail to finish in the top two.
That was down to a doughty performance by Sarah Gray’s Munster, whose defenders thrice took balls off the line to claim a 0-0 draw with Ulster. Aoibhinn Martin had given the hosts a 1-0 win over Connacht first up, creating a three-way title battle.
Leinster’s 3-1 victory over Ulster on Saturday swung the balance in their favour, setting up a crucial encounter against Munster yesterday morning.
Goalkeeper Kathryn Buckley again starred for Munster, but the only goal she conceded in the tournament proved to be a crucial one, Sarah Torrans cancelling out Michelle Barry’s effort in a 1-1 draw that gave Leinster the title.
Barry’s double ensured Munster finished their job against South East, winning 3-0 to oust Ulster for second place, an unbeaten tournament and the southern province’s best finish in a couple of seasons.
Meanwhile, Dubliner Aoife Freyne – who lined out in Division 6 last term – scored her first goal since being promoted to UCC’s Division 1 side as they rolled over UL 7-0 in the only top tier club game played this weekend.
Electric Ireland U18 Girls Interprovincials, Garryduff, Cork
South East 0 Munster 3 (E Nyland 2, H Redden); Connacht 0 Leinster 1 (S Clarke); South East 2 (A Cronin 2) Ulster 4 (A Hurst 2, P Best, Z Wilson); Connacht 0 Munster 2 (E Nyland 2); Ulster 1 (P Best) Leinster 2 (A Marsh, A Gleeson); Connacht 2 (R Heskin, S Minihan) South East 0; Ulster 2 (F Kidd, R Campbell) Munster 1 (E Nyland); Leinster 1 (A Roopnarinesingh) South East 0; Connacht 0 Ulster 6 (T Doherty, R Maguire, J Moore, E Kernohan, P Best, own goal); Leinster 2 (S Clarke, A Gleeson) Munster 0
Final standings: 1. Leinster 12pts (+4) 2. Ulster 9pts (+8) 3. Munster 6pts (+3) 4. Connacht 3pts (-7) 5. South East 0pts (-8)
Electric Ireland U16 Girls Interprovincials, Garryduff, Cork
Connacht 1 (A McGann) Leinster 5 (E Mathews 2, A Russell, own goal); Ulster 6 (Kilpatrick 2, Henderson, Getty, R Burns, McKee) South East o; Connacht 0 Munster 1 (A Martin); Ulster 1 (K McKee) Leinster 3 (S Kelly, F McDermott, E Curran); South East 5 (C Heuston 3, S O’Connor, J Hogg) Connacht 1 (M Corcoran); Ulster 0 Munster 0; South East 0 Leinster 2 (S Torrans 2); Munster 1 (M Barry) Leinster 1 (S Torrans); Connacht 0 Ulster 4 (H Irwin 2, J McMaster, O Thompson); Munster 3 (M Barry 2, N O’Keeffe) South East 0
Final standings: 1. Leinster 10pts (+8) 2. Munster 8pts (+4) 3. Ulster 7pts (+8) 4. South East 3pts (-7) 5. Connacht 0pts (-13)
Munster Div 1: UCC 7 (M Crowley 2, E Dobson, K Harvey, N Kerr, A Freyne, S Sullivan) UL 0.
It left a final-day showdown between the hosts and Leinster, but early goals from Sorcha Clarke and Gleeson took the wind out of Munster’s sails, and Leinster held on to win 2-0 in relative comfort.
The U16 tournament was a more complex affair, with Ulster looking the early favourites after hammering six first-half goals past South East on day one only to fail to finish in the top two.
That was down to a doughty performance by Sarah Gray’s Munster, whose defenders thrice took balls off the line to claim a 0-0 draw with Ulster. Aoibhinn Martin had given the hosts a 1-0 win over Connacht first up, creating a three-way title battle.
Leinster’s 3-1 victory over Ulster on Saturday swung the balance in their favour, setting up a crucial encounter against Munster yesterday morning.
Goalkeeper Kathryn Buckley again starred for Munster, but the only goal she conceded in the tournament proved to be a crucial one, Sarah Torrans cancelling out Michelle Barry’s effort in a 1-1 draw that gave Leinster the title.
Barry’s double ensured Munster finished their job against South East, winning 3-0 to oust Ulster for second place, an unbeaten tournament and the southern province’s best finish in a couple of seasons.
Meanwhile, Dubliner Aoife Freyne – who lined out in Division 6 last term – scored her first goal since being promoted to UCC’s Division 1 side as they rolled over UL 7-0 in the only top tier club game played this weekend.
Electric Ireland U18 Girls Interprovincials, Garryduff, Cork
South East 0 Munster 3 (E Nyland 2, H Redden); Connacht 0 Leinster 1 (S Clarke); South East 2 (A Cronin 2) Ulster 4 (A Hurst 2, P Best, Z Wilson); Connacht 0 Munster 2 (E Nyland 2); Ulster 1 (P Best) Leinster 2 (A Marsh, A Gleeson); Connacht 2 (R Heskin, S Minihan) South East 0; Ulster 2 (F Kidd, R Campbell) Munster 1 (E Nyland); Leinster 1 (A Roopnarinesingh) South East 0; Connacht 0 Ulster 6 (T Doherty, R Maguire, J Moore, E Kernohan, P Best, own goal); Leinster 2 (S Clarke, A Gleeson) Munster 0
Final standings: 1. Leinster 12pts (+4) 2. Ulster 9pts (+8) 3. Munster 6pts (+3) 4. Connacht 3pts (-7) 5. South East 0pts (-8)
Electric Ireland U16 Girls Interprovincials, Garryduff, Cork
Connacht 1 (A McGann) Leinster 5 (E Mathews 2, A Russell, own goal); Ulster 6 (Kilpatrick 2, Henderson, Getty, R Burns, McKee) South East o; Connacht 0 Munster 1 (A Martin); Ulster 1 (K McKee) Leinster 3 (S Kelly, F McDermott, E Curran); South East 5 (C Heuston 3, S O’Connor, J Hogg) Connacht 1 (M Corcoran); Ulster 0 Munster 0; South East 0 Leinster 2 (S Torrans 2); Munster 1 (M Barry) Leinster 1 (S Torrans); Connacht 0 Ulster 4 (H Irwin 2, J McMaster, O Thompson); Munster 3 (M Barry 2, N O’Keeffe) South East 0
Final standings: 1. Leinster 10pts (+8) 2. Munster 8pts (+4) 3. Ulster 7pts (+8) 4. South East 3pts (-7) 5. Connacht 0pts (-13)
Munster Div 1: UCC 7 (M Crowley 2, E Dobson, K Harvey, N Kerr, A Freyne, S Sullivan) UL 0.