Provinces end all square

The first two games of the women's Senior Interprovincial tournament in Cork finished 2-2 last evening, with hosts Munster and…

The first two games of the women's Senior Interprovincial tournament in Cork finished 2-2 last evening, with hosts Munster and outsiders Connacht twice equalising against title holders Leinster and Ulster, respectively, to take a point from their ties.

All four of the goals in the Leinster v Munster game came in the first 20 minutes, with two Karen Bateman efforts from short corners cancelling out goals from Loreto's Cathy McKean and Nikki Symmons.

Heather Mullan gave Ulster - seeking a clean sweep of interprovincial titles this season - the lead after six minutes before Orla Ryan, the third Loreto scorer of the day, levelled. Suzanne Beaney restored Ulster's advantage, but Pembroke Wanderers' Louisa O'Hagan equalised again, from a short corner, and that proved to be the final score of the game.

SENIOR INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT (at Farmers Cross): Munster 2 (K Bateman 2), Leinster 2 (C McKean, N Symmons); Ulster 2 (H Mullan, S Beaney), Connacht 2 (O Ryan, S Beaney). Today: Munster v Ulster, 10.0; Connacht v Leinster, 2.0. Tomorrow: Connacht v Munster, 9.0; Ulster v Leinster, 1.0.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times