ULSTER secured the Schools’ Interprovincial title yesterday afternoon at the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh following their victory over Connacht in a five-goal thriller.
This was followed by an earlier win in the competition on Friday evening as Ulster came from 2-0 down to claim a surprise result against defending Champions Leinster, notching up a 3-2 victory in the end. The Ulster men came from behind again on Saturday to see an injury time winner claim a valuable point in a highly entertaining game.
St. Eunan’s College mentor, Paul Browne managed the side last season which saw the squad fail to score or claim a point in the tournament so this year’s success was bitter sweet.
The Ulster students needed to win on Sunday morning to take the title from Leinster as the reigning Champions finished their campaign with a 4-1 win over Munster in the early morning fixture. The only thing stopping them was an inform Connacht side. Alan Murphy’s side needed to win by four clear goals to upset the odds and take the title from Leinster.
As proceedings got underway, it was Connacht who looked the brighter from the early exchanges. St. Enda’s College, Galway pupil Christopher Horgan gifted the Westerners a goal inside the first five minutes when he converted past Jason McCallion (Moville CC).
Just two minutes later, the Ulster crew saw the ball rocket off the Connacht crossbar much to the relief of Callaghan in goal.
Ulster duo, O’Connor and McBride saw their efforts go wide of the mark as Connacht sustained long periods of pressure. The Ulster men were rewarded for their hard work just before half time when Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí of Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny blasted the ball past Callaghan to make it 1-1 at the break.
Two minutes into the restart saw Seán McBride’s effort rifle the ball to the top corner only for Cian Mulryan to palm the ball away to safety.
The Ulster side were title contenders on 42 minutes as Seán McBride bagged Ulster a crucial goal to thwart Connacht’s dream.
St. Columba’s College starlet Corrie Lee Bogan made it 3-1 with twenty minutes remaining as he converted from close range. This was following some decent footwork from Aaron McColgan (Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana) to play a perfected weighted ball into Bogan’s path.
Calasanctius College, Oranmore student Ronan Manning netted for Connacht with sixty minutes played. This ensured a nervy finish for Paul Browne’s charges.
The remaining ten minutes saw Browne’s boys in a commanding position to see out the game and claim a historic victory which stems back as far as the 1994/95 season under Pat McHugh’s stewardship.
Ulster caused an upset on Friday evening coming from two goals down against 2015 winners, Leinster to take the game 3-2 in a wonderful opening encounter to the tournament.
[adrotate group=”81″]Leinster opened their account in fine style as Clonkeen College scholar Seán McDonald netted just after seven minutes of football. The Leinster lead was doubled on 21 minutes as Knockbeg College star Adam Feeney converted.
Ulster grabbed a goal back two minutes later as Seán McBride scored a wonderful goal to give the momentum back to Ulster.
Ulster hit the woodwork just before the hour mark but the Ulster equaliser came five minutes from time as Adam O’Connor (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff) netted.
Leinster Captain Michael Murphy saw red a minute later so Al Sugg’s men had to see out the game with 10 men. Connor Gormley (Loreto, Milford) got the winner with two minutes to go to take an historic win over the Leinster legends.
[adrotate group=”53″]Another upset was on the cards when Connacht defeated Munster 4-2 in the second game on Friday evening. A Beineoin O’Brien penalty on 11 minutes gave Munster an early advantage. This was the result of some brilliant play from Eoin Davis (PBC, Cork) who was bundled in the box.
The second half produced five well executed goals, thee from set pieces. An Aaron Perry equaliser nine minutes in saw the St. Attracta’s CS player with a vital goal for the Westerners.
Darren Sommers (Summerhill College) gave Connacht the lead with a well worked goal on 55 minutes.
Manning converted a brilliant set piece four minutes later to make to 3-1 and this was replicated by Tommy Molloy (St. Mary’s College, Galway) on 66 minutes to make it 4-1.
Darryl Walsh (St. Declan’s CC) brought it back to 4-2 with only two minutes left in the game.
The win gave Connacht and Ulster a commanding foothold on proceedings with day two seeing Munster and Ulster face off and Leinster up against Connacht.
The Saturday afternoon fixtures saw Ulster with an injury time equaliser courtesy of Shane Blaney (St. Eunan’s College) cancelling out Ryan Lambe’s (Rockwell College, Cashel) opener on nine minutes.
[adrotate group=”38″]Leinster took the full two points at their disposal from Connacht as Conor Layng (Athlone CC) and Seán McDonald netted twice in the second period, the latter converted from the penalty spot on his second attempt.
The third games of the series drew Leinster vs Munster in the early fixture on Sunday morning before Ulster and Connacht took to the field.
Leinster finished with a flourish as they put four past Munster to end the game 4-1. Athlone’s Conor Layng put his side ahead with three minutes played after great work down the left wing by Neil Farrugla (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock).
Shane Griffin (DLS, Waterford) had an excellent close range effort saved brilliantly by Adam Dempsey (Wexford CBS) on 26 minutes.
Marist College, Athlone youngster Joe Carmody hit the crossbar with a wonderfully placed attempt from distance just before the break.
Captain Michael Murphy doubled the Leinster lead three minutes in as Conor Layng grabbed his second of the afternoon and Leinster’s third on 44 minutes following good link play with Seán McDonald.
St. Colman’s CC scholar Matthew Lambe forced a soft save from Murray on 53 minutes.
[adrotate group=”80″]Neil Farrugla forced an excellent save from Eoin Power five minutes from time before Ryan Lambe got one back for Munster to make it 3-1.
Leinster netted for a fourth time on 67 minutes as Luke Byrne (St. Fintan’s HS, Sutton) slotted from close range to see out the game, 4-1.
INTERNATIONAL SELECTION
The International management team of Paddy O’Reilly (Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun), William O’Connor (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Ollie Horgan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) and John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray) will have a difficult task to whittle down a provisional squad to attend trials at the end of the month. O’Reilly is also conscious of the fact that a number of key players were unavailable at the weekend due to injury, club commitments and trials abroad.
A provisional panel will be invited to attend trials in the coming weeks. A final squad of sixteen will be selected for the Centenary Shield campaign which commences on February 16 at home to Wales.
Ulster: Jason McCallion (Moville CC), Jeaic MacCeallabhuí (Coláiste Ailigh, Letterkenny), Ryan Cunningham (St. Catherine’s VS, Killybegs), Connor Gormley & Shane McNamee (Loreto CC, Milford), Shane Blaney, Conor O’Donnell & Jordan Ryan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Jack Keaney (Abbey VS, Donegal Town), Corrie-Lee Bogan, Seán McBride & Jamie Bell (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Scott Prendergast (Virginia College), Aaron McColgan & Shane Dillon (Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana), Adam O’Connor (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff)
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