Kilkenny, September 22: Kilkenny College and Loreto Kilkenny were the places to be this weekend as the two schools hosted Round 2 of the Girls’ 2024 Inter Provincial Series. Ulster, playing their first round of games of this year’s competition, faced a Leinster South side that won and lost for the U16 and U18 teams against Munster in their opening games.
Leinster and Munster also faced off in Round 2. Having performed well in front of goal in round 1, Leinster would be hoping they can bring the positives from their games against Connacht forward to this weekend. Munster were no doubt relishing their return to the pitch following their two tight matchups with Leinster South in the Mardyke two weeks prior.
U16 Girls
Leinster South 0 Ulster 2
Leinster South began the day’s first game brightly, winning two penalty corners in the opening minutes of the game. However, it was Ulster who would bag the opening goal, an expertly converted short corner from Sophie Tate just minutes before the end of quarter 1.
Ulster continued to apply pressure in Q2, working the ball into the circle several times. The Leinster South backline stayed solid to keep Ulster at bay and the score remained 0 – 1 going into half-time.
Leinster South put the pressure on their opposition immediately in Q3. The home side won several penalty corners as they tried to assert themselves on the game, but Ulster fended them off. Ulster eventually regained control of the game, grabbing their second goal of the game less than 4 minutes into the final quarter, a goal from open play thanks the Camryn Wilson, securing the 0 – 2 win.
LEINSTER SOUTH U16: Amelia Hanley (GK), Marhsall Baugh (GK), Rachel Igoe, Roisín Coghlan, Mairead Duggan, Izzy Hughes, Isabel Walsh, Sofia Ball, Aoife Chaney, Zoe Collier, Ellie Garrigan, Lara Gray, Zoe Hogan, Lucy McCleane, Katie Ashmore, Sue Finley, Weldon O’Malley, Holly James.
ULSTER U16: Katie Dolan (GK), Leah Carter (GK), Charlotte Betts, Camryn Wilson, Maisy Hannath, Bnnie Connor-Boyd, Kate Livingstone, Cassie McMaw, Maggie Scott, Leah Callaghan, Alana Thorton, Grace Adamson, Brianna Gregg, Zara Hopkins, Katie Leslie, Lucy Megaw, Hollie Givan, Sophie Tate.
Leinster 1 (3) Munster 1 (4)
Having both secured wins in round 1 it was anyone’s guess who would come out on top between Leinster and Munster. The matchup proved to be an inseparable one with the sides having to share the points.
Munster took the lead in the first quarter, thanks to a tidy finish from Katya Shorten. However, Leinster found a reply, levelling the scoring in the second quarter through Georgia May Agnew.
The second half was an equally tight affair as both teams searched for the decisive goal. The deadlock was not to be broken, and the teams shared the points.
However, a bonus point was up for grabs given that the game ended in a draw. The sides went to a shoot-out, with Munster eventually prevailing and securing what could prove to be a crucial bonus point in the competition.
LEINSTER U16: S. Emmerson (GK), Carroll-Breen, Isabelle Mulcahy, Robyn O’Gara, Lienkies De Klerk, Emily Sexton, Laura Keogh, Olivia Lacy, M. McGloughlin, G.M. Agnew, Daisy Ovington.
SUBS USED: L. Fitzpatrick (GK) [52], Nicole Barry [13], Susanna Bloomer [6], L. Carvalho e Silva Kracke [11], Alannah Sheridan [4], Jilly Fox [12], Grace Galligan [10].
MUNSTER U16: Lily Burke, Mary Barry, Jenny Murphy, Caoilinn Lane, Rachel Sweetnam, Saoirse Gaffney, Lily May Kelleher, Ella O’Shaughnessy, Emma McDonald, Gabrielle Morrissey, Catherine Scully.
SUBS USED: Roisin O’Riordan (GK), Freya Bateman [7], Sophia Meaney [8], Sarah Spain [6], Michaela Jones [18], Eva Dullea [5], Katya Shorten [5].
U18 Girls
Leinster South 0 Ulster 4
Ulster U18 emulated the positive opening result of their U16 provincial counterparts as they too secured victory against Leinster South.
Despite the journey down to Kilkenny for their opening game, Ulster were sharp opening the scoring after 8 minutes thanks to a penalty corner goal from Anna McRoberts. They doubled their lead in Q2, and this time it was Lara Wilson with the decisive action from open play on 21 minutes.
Leinster South made every effort to fend off the visitors, putting together several positive passages of play and defending resolutely when called upon. Eventually, however, Ulster did find a third goal, another penalty corner in quarter 3 from Scarlett Taylor. The final blow was dealt in the last quarter when Chrissy Hopkins scored from open play on 61 minutes for Ulster’s fourth goal of the game.
LEINSTER SOUTH U18: Aoibhe Nolan (GK), Laura Leahy, Poppy Williams, Zoe Poole, Sarah Richardson, Sally Hannon, Orlaith Tucker, Roisín Burns, Sophie Naughton (C), Abogail Clarke, Lily Moore.
SUBS USED: Charlotte Ball (GK) [35], Emma Poole [16], Tara Clarke [10], Charlotte Foley [10], Cliodhna O’Connor [10], Lucy Simms [12], Johanna Chapman [7].
ULSTER U18: Anna Wilson (GK), Scarlett Taylor, Ruby Johnston, Joni Cunningham, Rebekah Lennon, Isla Allen, Emma McEntee, Anna McRoberts, Katie Herron, Emily Adamson, Erin Pim.
SUBS USED: Stella Wylie (GK) [35], Evie Duncan [17], Evie Thompson [17], Leah Galbraith [13], Evia Girvan [13], Chrissy Hopkins [13], Lara Wilson [13].
Leinster 4 Munster 1
Leinster entered this game the in-form side having beaten Connacht in Three Rock Rovers in Round 1. Munster on the other hand would be looking to make amends following their narrow defeat to Leinster South on home soil.
Sofie Moloney opened the scoring in quarter 1 from a penalty corner to give Munster an early lead. Leinster’s Lauryn Barry drew the sides level in quarter 2, taking her chance from a penalty corner.
The sides would stay locked at 1 – 1 for the remainder of the first half, as well as the third quarter. Leinster eventually took the lead within a minute of tip off in the final quarter having won a penalty stroke that Captain Sarah Byrne calmly dispatched.
The second goal seemed to ignite a fire in Leinster as they dominated the final period of the game. They extended their lead to 3 – 1 in the 64th minute from open play through Hollai Quinn. Quinn got her second of the game and Leinster’s 4th, converting a penalty corner just before the final whistle giving Leinster a deserved 4 – 1 victory over Munster.
LEINSTER U18: Lucy McGoldrick (GK), Eva Doyle, Hollai Quinn, Daisy Costello, Lucy Fox, Amber Mealia, Mollie Lennon, Sarah Byrne (C), Isobel Field, Kate Byrnes, Sophie Maxwell.
SUBS USED: Olufemi Ojo (GK) [35], J. Potter Cogan [5], Abbie O’Connor [4], Lauryn Barry [8], Luisa Kennedy [9], Eva Murphy [4], Amelia Ryan [6].
MUNSTER U16: Siun Dolan (GK), Sofie Moloney, Amy Noonan, Kate Collins, Ruby Lehane, Katie Toomey, Alex Dale, Jessica Grace, Rachel Somers (C), Zara Byrne, Sally Murray.
SUBS USED: Hilary Willis (GK) [35], Saoirse Cunningham [9], Kyah Kelly [9], Emma McAuliffe [17], Elizabeth Scully [17], Anna Rose Benson [12], Emily Brink [9].