MEN'S HOCKEY: Bert Verkeen, the Dutch Leinster under-21 coach, should be greatly satisfied with his work over the weekend. The Three Rock Rovers recruit stitched up the interprovincial championship over the first two days of the three-day event, firstly by beating title-holders Munster 3-1 on Friday night, and then on Saturday by running two goals in against Ulster without reply.

By Johnny Watterson

While Leinster had to rally from going a goal down in their first match against Munster, the game against Ulster was entirely in their hands for all but the opening 10 minutes. They finally earned the title at Havelock Park late in the match with goals arriving from Pembroke's Ronan Gormley and Derek O'Gorman.

On paper Ulster looked good and in the opening 10 minutes contested the match pretty evenly and earned their only short corner of the match. But from there on it was all Leinster, although the sides went in even at half-time.

But Ulster could have no complaints about the second period as Leinster entirely shaped the game. Skipper Gormley netted with a drag flick on Leinster's sixth corner just on the hour, before Aer Lingus striker O'Gorman sweetly struck at a slip left again at a corner for 2-0.

It was a poignant win for the Leinster youths and Vreeken accepted the trophy on behalf of the late Gerry McCabe, who was coaching the side before a fatal car accident prior to Christmas.

In the Leinster Senior League Division One, Corinthians kept their title ambitions alive against Avoca, but not before a scare 15 minutes from the end in a lively, 10-goal match.

In the end the homeside emerged as undeniable 7-3 winners but were forced to step up a gear after Avoca brought the match to 3-3 in the last quarter of the game.

Neil Young opened for Corinthians after three minutes, sweeping up a loose ball before Miles Warren made it 2-0 just before half-time.

Avoca then responded through captain Rory Kirwan, the first of his two goals arriving from a corner for 2-1 before Colin Stewart hit the first of his three from play for 3-1.

Enda Gallanagh's solo run and fine finish brought the score to 3-2 before he was bundled over two minutes later for Kirwan to equalise from the penalty sport for 3-3 midway through the second half.

Avoca, who seemed to be tiring, allowed Colin Stewart to deflect into the net for 4-3 and claim his deserved hat-trick a few minutes later for 5-3.

Young, with his second goal, and James Benson from a penalty added two more in the closing minutes.