Banbridge, September 15: Ulster welcomed Leinster to Havelock Park, home of Banbridge Hockey Club, for the second round of the Boys’ Interpro Series. Having recorded wins in their opening fixtures against Munster a fortnight ago, Leinster went into Round 2 keen to build on those victories. Ulster entered the round, their first set of games in the competition, off the back of an extensive summer of preparation that included games against the UK Lions, and a gold medal in the UK School Games in Loughborough for the U18 side.
Ulster U16 [ 4 – 2 ] Leinster U16
Round 2 began with the Ulster and Leinster U16 sides taking to the pitch first in Banbridge. Ulster opened the scoring in the dying seconds of the first quarter thanks to Daniel Shannon. The hosts doubled their lead in Q2, again from opening play through Danile McKee.
Leinster halved the deficit at a near opportune time thanks to Louis Rothwell’s finish, but Ulster restored their two-goal cushion from a penalty corner converted by Charlie Taylor. Leinster responded, keeping their hopes of a victory alive, when Conor Fox found the back of the net from a penalty corner.
Ulster maintained their composure in Q4 to deny Leinster an equalizer. With 9 minutes to play, Josh Gill got Ulster their fourth goal, sealing the victory for the home side.
ULSTER U16: RORY CUNNINGHAM (GK), EUAN JACK, DANIEL MCKEE, CHARLIE COSTELLOE, JOSH GILL, RILEY MARNEY, CHARLIE TAYLOR, BOBBI ROBINSON, FINN THOMPSON (C), ROBBIE MCAREAVEY (VC)
SUBS USED: CAMERON LUNEY [ 36’ ], DANIEL SHANNON [ 12’] , ADAM PRICE [ 18’ ], THOMAS BARBOUR [ 18’ ], COHN HENRY-MCOOL [ 33’ ], DANIEL MCCLUGHAN [ 18’ ], NOAH CUDDY [ 25’ ].
LEINSTER U16: DYLAN EVANS (GK), CONOR FOX, ROSS COLLINS, MAX STEAD, SIMON MONTGOMERY, ISAAC BELL, PATRICK CAULWELL, HARRY GRAINGER, JOSH KELLY, JONAH NATHAN, LOUIS ROTHWELL
SUBS USED: LUKE MURPHY [ 18’ ], MORGAN DUIGAN [ 12’ ], MATTHEW KINCH [ 10’ ], ALBIE CHANCE [ 9’ ], CHARLIE TROTTER [ 9’ ].
Ulster U18 [ 3 – 2 ] Leinster U18
A tight opening few minutes ultimately resulted in an Ulster goal breaking the deadlock with Captain Michael Holloway converting a penalty corner. Ulster extended their lead going into half time, just before the whistle blew, this time from opening play thanks to Adam Mckee.
Leinster turned the tide in the third quarter mounting a comeback thanks to penalty corner goals from Oliver Graham and Toby Slye O’Connell.
With the clock ticking down Ulster were awarded a penalty stroke, which was expertly saved by Leinster goalkeeper Oskar Nielsen. Despite the save, Ulster would get the last laugh, with Matthew McAreavey scoring from open play to secure the victory with just seconds left on the clock.
ULSTER U18: SAM HOLMES (GK), MICHAEL GIRVAN, SEB HOLLEY, MICHAEL HOLLOWAY (C), ED IRWIN, MATTHEW MCAREAVEY, ADAM MCKEE, MAX NICHOLSON, JOSH OSBOURNE, MILO THOMPSON, HARRY THOMPSON.
SUBS USED: THOMAS COSTELLOE [ 18’], JAMES BARBOUR [ 18’ ], TOBY LYONS [ 23’ ], MATTHEW BARRETT [ 23’ ], RORY JOHNSON [ 31’ ], ISAAC KELSO [ 12’ ], ETHAN REFORD [ 18’ ].
LEINSTER U18: OSKAR NIELSEN (GK), NOA MULVEY, TOBY SLYE O’CONNELL, DAVID RANKIN, JAKE FULTON, OLIVER GRAHAM, RIAGAN DUNNE, KEVIN MCKEON, LIAM WALSH (C), NIALL RYAN DOYLE, SAM ROTHWELL
SUBS USED: CIARAN LYONS [ 36’ ], JAKE FULTON [ 18’ ], LUC MCKIERNAN [ 5’ ], MILO DAGG [ 5’ ], HARRY GLENNON [ 24’ ], HENRY RHYS THOMAS [ 17’ ], WILLIAM KNATCHBULL [ 8’ ], KYLE HANDCOCK [ 10’ ].