Ulster edge Interprovincial series

PAUL BROWNE’S charges made it two wins from two when they overcame reigning Champions Leinster in their penultimate outing of the three day series.

The 2-1 victory saw Ulster edge the tie with four points collected to date while Alan Murphy’s Connacht select are hot on their heels with three points following a 1-1 draw with Munster in the second of today’s fixtures.

It will be all to play for tomorrow morning with Munster facing off against Leinster while a draw against Connacht would be enough to see Ulster clinch the title.

As today’s events unfolded, it took some second half magic to see the game come to life. Carndonagh grad Mikey Friel got the Ulster side off the mark when he latched onto a brilliant cross from classmate Corey McBride to slot home the opener ten minutes into the second period.

Their advantage was short lived however as Rockbrook Park starlet Jamin Nwanze equalised eight minutes later when he headed home from a set piece. 

Ulster then converted the match winner seven minutes from time with Ronan Gallagher scoring a beauty just inside the box.

Another close encounter saw Munster and Connacht coming out with a point apiece.

The early exchanges saw St. Joseph’s College pupil Colin Kelly and counterpart Chris O’Reilly of Douglas Community School miss belters in what was brilliantly executed passages of play.

The stalemate remained at the break with Dónal Higgins’ (Yeats College) effort sailing over the upright fifteen minutes into the restart while four minutes later Killian O’Brien (Schull CC) had a rocket smash off the crossbar.

With ten minutes remaining, Kinsale man Luke Desmond dinked the defense and hit a shot off his left peg to rifle past James Robinson.

Munster must have thought they had it wrapped up late on but Colin Kelly earned the Connacht side a draw in the 66^th minute with a well worked set piece on the edge of the box to nick the equaliser. 

SUNDAY SHOWDOWN

Leinster will look to bounce back from two narrow defeats to get some points on the board in the final outing for Ryan’s squad as they line out at 10am in the AUL Complex. Meanwhile, Munster will look to add to their points tally before they travel South.

Connacht will be without the services of Kiltimagh youngster Jack O’Connor as he picked up a head injury in his opening appearance against Leinster. A must win for Alan Murphy’s side as they kick off at 11.30am in what will prove a pulsating conclusion to the tournament.

Ulster on the other hand can report a clean bill of health as they look to replicate their 2016 success story which saw them claim the title following a twenty year absence. Can the Browne and Cavanagh duo motivate their squad to new heights? Only time will tell…

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS:

ULSTER | Kyle Burns (Mulroy College, Milford), Jack Parke (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe), Daragh Ellison (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Lee McLaughlin, Jack Doherty, Corey McBride, Mikey Friel (Carndonagh Community School), Stephen Black, Conor Black, Ronan Gallagher, Ronan Boyce (Loreto Community School, Milford), Seán McEvoy, Aaron McCabe (Virginia College, Cavan), Oisin Cannon (PCC Falcarragh), Jamie Doherty, Patrick Ferry (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair)

Management | Paul Browne (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Martin Cavanagh (Carndonagh Community School)

MUNSTER | Ben Kirwan (St. Declan’s Community College), Chris O’Reilly (Douglas Community School), Sam Dwyer (CBS High School, Clonmel), Jake O’Brien (Pobailscoil na Tríonóide, Youghal), Niall O’Keefe, Cameron Power (De La Salle College, Waterford), Oran Daly (Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh), John Hayes (Scoil Mhuire agus Idé, Newcastle West), Conor Butler (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Robert Geaney O’Brien (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Brian Ahern (Hazelwood College), Mikey Foley (Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh), Matty O’Reilly (Midleton CBS), Killian O’Brien (Schull Community College), Luke Desmond (Kinsale Community School), Callan Scully (St. Joseph’s CBS, Nenagh)

Management | Derek O’Brien (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Cathal Lordan (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Conor Coad (Coach), Seamus McWalter (Physio)

LEINSTER | Jamie Cleary (Driminagh Castle CBS, Walkinstown), Harry McEvoy (St. Benildus College, Stillorgan), Kevin O’Reilly, Conor Behan (Moyle Park College, Clondalkin), Keith Carter (Coláiste Choilm, Swords), Jamin Nwanze (Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham), Denis Smith (Belvedere College), James Clarke (Boyne Community School, Trim), Brandon Bermingham (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda), Jack Moylan (St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton), Byron O’Gorman (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Alex Aspil (The High School, Rathgar), Ross Tierney (St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall), Jake Ellis (Oatlands College, Mount Merrion), Jack Savage (Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght), David Odumosu (O’Fiaich College, Dundalk)

Management | Ian Ryan (St. Mac Dara’s CC, Templeogue), Fintan Sheridan (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin), Davey Cullen (Woodbrook College, Bray), Stephen O’Reilly (GK Coach), Jordan Keogh (Video Analyst), Ferdia McKeon (Physio)

CONNACHT | James Robinson (St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar) Iarlaith O’Sullivan, Charlie Concannon & Colin Kelly (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Gearoid Mulligan, Bryan Lynch & Adam Lynch (Summerhill College, Sligo), Mark Melody (Coláiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway), Adam Farrell (Colaiste Mhuire, Ballygar), Jack O’Connor (St. Louis Community School, Kitimagh), Oisin Duffy & Jordan Carr (Garbally College, Galway), Dónal Higgins, Aidan Halloran (Yeats College, Galway), Liam Corcoran (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Patrick Martyn (Presentation College, Athenry)

Management | Alan Murphy & Alex Lee (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Kevin Murphy (Coach), Keith McTigue (Coach)

U18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT: AUL COMPLEX, CLONSHAUGH

35 mins per half. No extra time. 10 min h/t interval

Friday, November 9

4.00pm Munster 1-3 Ulster

5.30pm Connacht 4-3 Leinster

Saturday, November 10

3.00pm Ulster 2-1 Leinster

4.30pm Connacht 1-1 Munster

Sunday, November 11

10.00am Munster vs Leinster

11.30am Connacht vs Ulster

Roll of Honour: Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament Winners

END