HOCKEY: Although going under 2-1 to Ulster in the opening match of the senior interprovincial championship at Belfield on Saturday, Munster found sufficient shape in the second half to suggest they can yet retain the title.
Missing Jason and Mark Black because of injury, as well as Ali Dunne, Munster looked unsettled in the opening period. They yielded a goal after 11 minutes to Brian Waring following a short corner and then a thrust from the right by Andy Barbour allowed Mark Irwin to slot the clinical Ulster side into a 2-0 lead. The margin might well have been greater but for several saves by Marcus Ruddle, a most capable deputy for Wesley Bateman.
By the interval, the Munster coach Stephen Jackson could see how to make the best use of his resources. Midfield became stronger as David Hobbs, with assistance from John Ahern, upped the tempo and, after being foiled initially by David Buchanan, earned a goal from Trevor Dunne 15 minutes from the end.
The corresponding match a year ago was a scoreless draw, so Ulster have made an encouraging start to their campaign and will await with interest the outcome of the next fixture between Munster and Leinster in Dublin on November 23rd.
As the Leinster squad takes shape, it is no surprise the Three Rock Rovers captain, Alan Bothwell, has been joined in the training panel by his clubmates, Peter McConnell, Gary Ringwood and Christian Judd, as Rovers lead the league table. In coming from behind to beat Pembroke Wanderers 3-2 at Serpentine Avenue on Saturday, they hold a 100 per cent record from five games.
It appeared at the outset Pembroke were going to dominate as Dougie Good combined with Alan Giles to fire the home side ahead. But Rovers rallied as Ringwood equalised and although Gordon Elliott put Pembroke back in front by the interval, Ringwood again levelled matters early in the second half before Charlie Carroll seized the winner.
Defending champions Glenanne, for whom Devin Kehoe epitomised a renewal of concentration, defeated YMCA 4-2.Of the other contenders, Monkstown's Alan Lewis snapped up two first-half goals to set them on the way to a 5-1 victory over UCD. Railway Union beat Aer Lingus through a goal by Owen Butler while Corinthians gained a 3-0 win over Avoca.
