Leinster take O45 title at Masters Interpros
April 20, 2015
Ulster took the title in the O40s section of the women's masters Interpros held at Lisnagarvey over the weekend. Coming into the last game Ulster needed a win while a draw would have given Leinster the title. Ulster had earlier beaten Munster 4-0 and then had a hard fought battle with Connacht on Saturday evening. Connacht had made all the running with Emma Glanville dominating and deservedly took the lead through Deirdre McDermott. But Ulster fought back and Netty Wilson got the equaliser a few minutes from the end. Leinster had beaten both Connacht (2-0) and Munster (4-1) before the show down with Leinster. Leinster's six goals were shared among the team with Emma Curry, Sarah Scott, Nikki McMullan, Loran Bagnall, Mairead D'Arcy and Hazel Agar all on the scoresheet. However, they were unable to find their free flowing game and scoring against a dogged Ulster side. Ulster won 2-1, and despite taking off goalkeeper Mary Harkin in the dying minutes of the game Leinster were unable to find the equaliser and Ulster hung on to win the game and take the tournament honours.In a very competitive O45s section Leinster 45s narrowly took the title from Munster with both teams finishing on 5 points and a goal difference of +1. Leinster 45s took the title by virtue of having scored 3 goals against Munster's 2. They played out a nil all draw when they played each other. Munster then went on to beat Ulster in a game where they defended well and then won a stroke off a penalty corner which Shirley Moore scored to win the game. However, the Leinster 50s held Munster to a 1-1 draw in a very competitive match with no quarter given. Kathy Shaw gave Munster the lead from a well worked corner but Maran O'Brien equalised for the Leinster 50s finishing off a lovely through ball from Roly Burke. The Leinster 45s had earlier beaten the Leinster 50s, Grainne Millar getting the winner 2 minutes from the end. The Leinster 45s then played out a 1-1 draw with Ulster, Alison Pigot getting the Leinster goal after Anne Snoddy had put Ulster ahead from a corner. The draw was enough to take the title from Munster on goals for.
Following on from the weekend, squads will be selected to represent Ireland at O40s, O45s and O50s levels at the Home Nations in Wakefield, England from 26th - 28th June and at the Europeans in London from 22nd to 28th August.
Women's O40s: 1. Ulster (7 pts), 2. Leinster (6 pts), 3. Connacht (4 Pts), 4. Munster (0 pts)
Women's O45s: 1. Leinster (5 pts, GD = +1, GF = 3) 2. Munster (5 pts, GD = +1, GF = 2), 3. Ulster (4 pts), 4. Leinster 50s (1 pt)
Thanks to Helen Johnston for the report.
Thanks to Helen Johnston for the report.
