Girls Interprovincial Tournament – Full Round-Up from Cork
September 10, 2025
It was a fantastic weekend of hockey that our four squads from Leinster and Leinster South will remember for a long time, as the Girls Interprovincial Tournament took place in Cork from Friday to Sunday. The tournament was packed with exciting matches, valuable learning experiences, and plenty of fun, as our U16 and U18 squads faced Ulster, Munster, and Connacht in games that showcased brilliant hockey.
U16 Girls Tournament
The action began on Friday with both Leinster and Leinster South getting their campaigns underway. Leinster South faced a strong Munster side and, despite a determined effort, Munster came away with the points. Leinster, meanwhile, got off to a flying start with a convincing win over Connacht, thanks to goals from Grace Galligan, Rebecca Ryan, Bella Stafford, Sienna Boucher, Jamie Dagg, and doubles from Georgia May Agnew and Jilly Fox.
Saturday began with a much-anticipated derby between Leinster and Leinster South. Both teams produced excellent hockey, but Leinster’s clinical finishing secured a 3–0 win, with goals from Jilly Fox, Laura Carvalho, and Rebecca Ryan — making it two wins from two. Later that day, Leinster South bounced back superbly, defeating Connacht 3–1 with all three goals coming from Sofia Ball in a standout performance. Leinster then faced Munster in a tense 1–1 draw, with Bella Stafford on target before Munster edged the shootout 3–1, Rebecca Ryan scoring Leinster’s goal in the shootout.
On Sunday morning, Leinster faced Ulster in a must-win clash. In a thrilling contest with chances for both sides, Ulster claimed a narrow 2–1 win, with Bella again on the scoresheet to finish her tournament with three goals in four games. Leinster ended with two wins, a draw, and a loss — enough for a strong third-place finish. Leinster South also closed their campaign against Ulster, who proved too strong on the day, but the South girls battled hard and found the net through Ellen Daly. Both squads can be proud of their performances, leaving Cork with valuable experience, great memories, and plenty of positives to build on.
U18 Girls Tournament
The U18 tournament kicked off with Leinster South against Munster. In a closely fought game, Munster found the decisive edge to take the win. Leinster started their campaign strongly with a hard-fought 2–0 victory over Connacht, with goals from Holly Farrell and Juliette Duffy.
Saturday’s derby between Leinster and Leinster South was another highlight, with Leinster winning 3–1 thanks to goals from Nicole Barry, Daisy Costello, and Juliette Duffy. Sally Hannon scored for Leinster South, who continued to show great determination across the weekend. Leinster followed that up with a brilliant 2–0 win over Munster, Yana Yoakley and Holly Farrell getting the goals to make it three wins from three. Leinster South battled hard but narrowly lost 2–1 to Connacht, with Aoife Chaney scoring their goal.
That set up a Sunday decider between Leinster and Ulster, with the title on the line. In a high-quality, evenly matched contest, heartbreak struck in the final minute as Ulster snatched a 1–0 win. Ulster then went on to defeat Leinster South, despite another goal from Aoife Chaney in a 4–1 result, to secure the championship. Leinster finished second, level on points, in what was a superb campaign full of outstanding performances.
Individual Awards
A huge congratulations to the Leinster and Leinster South girls who picked up individual awards for their excellent performances:
Leinster U16 Girls
- Sienna Boucher – Technical Award
- Annabel Wyse – Influencer Award
Leinster South U16 Girls
- Laragh Coughlan – Athlete
Leinster U18 Girls
- Daisy Costello – Game Changer
- Luisa Kennedy – Technical Award
Congratulations and Thanks
There were so many brilliant moments across both age groups, with teams and individuals stepping up on the big stage. Congratulations also go to Ulster’s U16 and U18 squads on their fantastic achievement of winning both tournaments.
A huge thank you to everyone who made the weekend possible: players, coaches, managers, parents, guardians, Leinster Hockey committee members, and volunteers. Your energy and support were invaluable in creating such a memorable weekend.
Finally, a special thank you to AerCap for their continued support of the Leinster Hockey Development Programme, helping us grow both on and off the pitch, and to Hockey Ireland for organising another brilliant Interpros.
