Having endured the wind and rain in the youth interprovincial tournament at Blaris, Ireland's best young hockey players can enjoy more balmy Sicilian airs in the European Championships at Easter. A shrewd Dublin-based aficianado suggested over the weekend that Ireland can only do well when Ulster thrive - highly debatable - but that's what happened yesterday as they clinched both titles.
The under-18s swept to a 4-0 defeat of Leinster who had no answer to finely-struck first and last goals by Ian Hamilton. Andrew McGimpsey and David Robb were the other scorers against a side jaded by their efforts in ending Munster's year as champions with a 2-1 win.
Rory Heaslip gave Munster the lead from a short corner but Patrick Good was quick to reply for Leinster and Alex Cuppage tucked away what proved to be the decisive goal before the interval.
Ulster retained the under-16 laurels in drawing 2-2 with Leinster in the most buoyant game of the weekend. Needing to win by three clear goals, Leinster played with admirable verve in the opening half and, with Phelie Maguire as the driving force, they darted into a 2-0 lead as Philip Balbirnie lashed home two searing shots.
Simon Magowan reduced the deficit before the break however, and with Francis McGivern giving an excellent performance between the Ulster posts, Leinster were foiled of a further breakthrough. Then, despite particularly adept defending by Richie O'Malley, an Ulster equaliser was snapped up by the ever-menacing Mark Gleghorne in the last minute.
Earlier, Gareth Watkins had notched a hat-trick against Munster but the concessions of two goals resulted in Leinster's 5-2 margin being ultimately inadequate.
In Dublin on Saturday, the surrendering of three more points by Pembroke Wanderers, in losing 21 to Corinthians, left Glenanne with a solid five-point advantage at the top of the table. Stephen Butler registered two more setpiece goals with John Goulding also adding to his tally as the potential champions beat Monkstown 3-0 at Rathdown.
Corinthians, who have joined Pembroke in second place, survived a threatening start by their accomplished visitors. Subsequently, Cormac Byrne and Colin Ross took much of the steam out of the Wanderers approaches, though Justin Sherriff combined with Gordon Elliott and Trevor Dunne to seize the lead after the interval. Immediately, however, Colin Stewart whipped in an equaliser and Robbie Burns struck the winner following a short corner.
Although goalkeeper Shane Davey uncharacteristically was red carded, Three Rock Rovers held out at Park Avenue to reverse an earlier 2-1 defeat by Avoca. Liam Canning and Ross Varian put Rovers two up, but after Dave Hanna had been repulsed by Davy, Enda Gallanagh poached a reply at the expense of stand-in keeper, Johnny Sleeman. Then, only a clearance off the goal-line by the committed Niall Denham foiled Gallahad Goulet from saving a point.
