Dublin, Sunday September 29: It was an encounter on neutral ground today for Ulster and Munster in Round 3 of the 2024 Boys Inter Provincial Series. In their opening round of fixtures against Leinster a fortnight ago, Ulster secured a double victory, giving them a strong platform from which to build on. Munster on the other hand were yet to record any points from their first game of the season, despite a strong performance against Leinster in Round 1. The two sides met in the Sport Ireland Campus for what could be a crucial 3rd round.
U16 Boys
Ulster 3 Munster 0
Despite the three-goal margin and clean sheet, Ulster by no means cruised to victory in the day’s opening match. Ulster did open the scoring early on, with Josh Gill scoring on 10 minutes from a penalty corner. Munster, however, would frustrate their opposition for the next 58 minutes, remaining relentless in defence and mounting several attacks of their own to keep Ulster honest.
The resolve was eventually broken, when Josh Gill got his brace from open play in the 68th minute. Ulster sealed the victory with a third goal, converted by Charlie Taylor right before the final whistle blew.
The victory puts Ulster U16s top of the table at the midway point.
ULSTER U16: Rory Cunningham (GK), Euan Jack, Daniel McKee, Charlie Costello, Josh Gill, Riley Marney, Charlie Taylor, Daniel Shannon, Finn Thompson (C), Robbie McAreavey, Thomas Barbour.
SUBS USED: Cameron Luney (GK) [36 mins], Bobbi Robson [24 mins], Adam Price [24 mins], Cohn Henry-McCool [14 mins], Daniel McClughan [45 mins], Noah Cuddy [13 mins], Ethan Kilpatrick [24 mins].
MUNSTER U16: Kayden Kennedy (GK), James Bryan, Cathal Duffy, Ben McInerney, Aidan Dooley, Rowan O’Byrne, William Black (C), Matthew Fletcher, M. Hamilton Foott, Cal Murphy, Daniel Bywater.
SUBS USED: Elliot Jackman [15 mins], Billy O’Leary [13 mins], Robert Cronin [24 mins], Anish Nugent [13 mins], Cian O’Donovan [13 mins], Paddy Creagh [10 mins], Ben Russell (GK).
U18 Boys
Ulster 4 Munster 1
Ulster had to come from behind following an early scare from Munster to secure their second win from two in the 2024 Boys Inter Provincial Series.
Ulster won a number of early penalty corners, but it was Munster who grabbed the first goal of the game to take the lead after 14 minutes thanks to captain Rob Holden. Ulster responded quickly, drawing level and then taking the lead thanks to goals from Ethan Redford and Ed Irwin, to give the side a 2-1 at the end of quarter 1.
Michael Girvin produced a moment of magic in the second quarter, cutting in from the left and firing past the Munster keeper at the near post to extend the lead on 28 minutes. Matt Barrett made it 4-1 in Ulster’s favour right before half-time, again from open play.
Despite several efforts from both sides in the second half, the goal was not to be breached. Ulster sealed their second win of the day, with Ulster U18 taking their place at the top of the table after round 3.
ULSTER U18: Thomas Costelloe (GK), Max Nicholson, Michael Holloway, Seb Holley, Ed Irwin, Milo Thompson (C), Michael Girvin, Josh Osborne, Matthew Lunn, Adam McKee, Harry Thompson.
SUBS USED: Benji Patterson (GK) [36 mins], Isaac Kelso [14 mins], James Barbour [11 mins], Harry Taylor [8 mins], Ethan Redford [7 mins], Matthew McAreavey [7 mins], Matt Barrett [12 mins].
MUNSTER U18: H Casey Floodman (GK), Alfie O’Shea, Sean Curtin, Rob Olden (C), Jamie Horgan, Sean Landers, Oisín Gavin, Hayden Jones, Louis McDaid, Cuan Twomey, Graham White.
SUBS USED: Jack Chambers (GK) [53 mins], Ollie Killeen [32 mins], Teige Moloney [29 mins], Flor Rahilly Scully [14 mins], Charlie Bateman [13 mins], Harry McCourt [23 mins], Harry Earl [35 mins]