Hook Hockey

Leinster U-16 end six year wait for interpro win

Ailbhe Marsh’s goal proved the vital moment for Leinster’s U-16s as they won back the title for the first time since 2005 as they produced a brilliant second day at the interpros in Stormont.

Marsh was also on target twice in the opening game of the day against Connacht in a 7-0 rout which, along with Ulster’s 6-0 dismissal of the South East, set up a winner take all tie between the two provinces in the penultimate game of the competition.

Indeed, having both drawn with Munster on day one, there was precious little between both sides going into the tie, starting with the same goal difference though Leinster had the slight edge on goals scored. In a tight battle, Marsh’s goal proved the only one which Ulster were to concede over the entire weekend.

At U-18 level, the title decider also came down to a Leinster-Ulster battle, this time in the final game of the competition, with Kate Dillon’s side needing three points to grab the trophy. However, this is a fine Ulster side who have already enjoyed top level competition at the recent British school’s championships and they ran out 3-0 winners.

Youth Olympian Katie Mullan was on the mark for the eighth time in the tournament while Chloe Brown and Penny Joyce were also on the mark to confirm their victory.

Defensively superb, they kept a clean sheet from their four games while notching 18 at the far end in a truly dominant showing. Leinster secured second by virtue of their earlier 2-0 win over Connacht, Emma Russell and Kate Lloyd following up their Saturday goal-scoring exploits to take silver.

ESB Electric Ireland U16 Interprovincial Tournament (all at Stormont)
Sunday results: Connacht 0 Leinster 7 (S Quill 2, A Marsh 2, S Patton, S O’Donoghue, P Cotter); Ulster 6 (T Doherty 2, K Edgar 2, F Kidd, J Moore) South East 0; Connacht 0 Munster 2 (E Nyland, H Redden); Ulster 0 Leinster 1 (A Marsh); Munster 0 South East 1 (K Raeburn)
Final standings: 1. Leinster 10pts (+14) 2. Ulster 7pts (+12) 3. South East 6pts (-4) 4. Munster 5pts (+1) 5. Connacht 0pts (-17)

ESB Electric Ireland U18 Interprovincial Tournament
Sunday results: Munster 3 (V Burns 2, C Hayes) South East 1 (A Haslam); Leinster 2 (E Russell, K Lloyd) Connacht 0; Ulster 2 (C Brown, K Morris) South East 0; Connacht 2 (A Codyre, H Gormley) Munster 2 (C Hayes, R Upton); Ulster 3 (K Mullan, C Brown, P Joyce) Leinster 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster 12pts (+18) 2. Leinster 7pts (+1) 3. Munster 4pts (-5) 4. Connacht 4pts (-8) 5. South East 1pt (-6)