Ulster got their FAI Under-18 Boys Interprovincial Tournament underway with a 3-1 win over Munster this evening at a windy AUL Complex.
Paul Browne guided Ulster to Interprovincial glory in 2016 and the St. Eunan’s College mentor will be hoping for a repeat performance this season as he’s joined by Martin Cavanagh in the management setup.
The duo both starred for Ulster at this level in the 80s and 90s and are no strangers to Schools football with Cavanagh securing a National Senior Boys title with Carndonagh Community School last year.
On paper, Ulster looked the more impressive however it was the Munster contingency that sparked to life with quarter of an hour played. Robert Geaney O’Brien was demonstrating his class and nearly saw his splendid effort dispatched successfully only for a last ditch effort on the goal-line by Loreto Milford scholar Ronan Boyce to deny the PBC student.
Boyce’s colleague Ronan Gallagher had a fantastic opportunity four minutes later to convert but he dragged the ball off target.
Again the danger man, Robert Geaney O’Brien and Oran Daly (Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh) were causing all sorts of problems for the Ulster defense but netminder Kyle Burns (Mulroy College) was equally as gifted to stop their pursuits.
With less than five minutes to the interval, Ulster were awarded a penalty when the lively Carndonagh talisman Corey McBride was impeded in the box. Daragh Ellison (St. Eunan’s College) duly delivered giving the Northerners a one goal cushion at the break.
30’ | GOAL ? Ulster Daragh Ellison @SaintEunans converts from the spot after Corey McBride Carn CS was taken down in the box 1-0 | pic.twitter.com/S9zI4ZdADu
— FAI Schools (@faischools) November 9, 2018
Ulster doubled their lead five minutes into the restart as Corey McBride scored from a set-piece.
Seven minutes later, it was 2-1 as Hazelwood College pupil Brian Ahern poked the ball home inside a congested Ulster goalmouth.
Ronan Gallagher saw his initial strike smack off the woodwork but the rebound fell nicely to him to slot home a peach just before the hour mark to give the Ulster side some breathing space.
Indeed this was the last of the goal fest as they saw out the match with some solid defending to take a valuable two point advantage into day two as the game ended 3-1.
Ulster will now face defending Champions Leinster in the opening game of match day two when they do battle at 3pm while Connacht will take on Munster at 4.30pm in what will be a must win for Derek O’Brien’s side.
Ulster: Kyle Burns, Darragh Ellison, Lee McLaughlin, Stephen Black, Jack Doherty, Conor Black, Sean McEvoy, Mikey Friel, Ronan Gallagher, Corey McBride, Ronan Boyce. Subs: Jack Parke, Jamie Doherty, Patrick Ferry, Aaron McCabe, Oisin Cannon.
