While it was a testing, wintry weekend for the Youth Interprovincial tournament in Kilkenny, the cream of the country's young players can look forward to the European championships in San Sebastian in July. Ulster retained the Under-18 title, but were subdued by a 2-1 defeat by Munster in their final game yesterday.
At Under-16 level, the powerful Leinster side also lost one match - to Ulster 3-2 - on their way to winning the Frank Green trophy, finishing with an 8-1 victory over Munster. It seemed that the Ulster Under-18s having twice beaten Leinster, were on their way to a grand slam when Arron Gill gave them the lead against Munster, but Philip McLoughlin scored a reverse-stick equaliser and Stephen Parker put the Southern province ahead early in the second half.
Tim Cockram, Iain Lewers and Gill pushed hard to get back on terms, but Chris Daunt, Ian Fischer and Ken Twomey defiantly enabled Munster to poach three points. Leinster duly gained second place in the senior competition.
In losing 3-1 to Ulster on Saturday, the Leinster attackers had been foiled by inspired goalkeeping by Gareth Lennox. But in the final game everything clicked into place in beating Munster 5-1. Ronan Gormley quickly opened the scoring from a short corner, and then a long ball from the back by Ken Carroll sent David Cinnamond clear to set up Andrew Walker to make it 2-0 by the interval.
Andrew Kenny, Philip Balbirnie and Gormley completed the tally in the second half, before Parker replied at a late stage for Munster.
Thomas Mulhall excelled in notching five goals for the Leinster Under-16s who, though, met pockets of resistance from Munster's gallant young team. To a degree, Gareth Watkins and Alec Barrett - an outstanding pair, along with Mark Gleghorne of Ulster - were contained by Andy Herbert, while Billy Lynch made some good saves. Richard Arnopp's consolation goal, too, was skilfully taken.
In Dublin circles on Saturday, Monkstown's 2-1 Leinster Senior League win over Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road will give them fresh impetus in their bid to reach the all-Ireland play-off.
Ian Stuart, the captain, and Simon Cox tucked away neat goals, with a stout defence, bulwarked by Richard Beere and Brian Groves, allowing Alan Bothwell to punch only one reply. The two top sides, Pembroke Wanderers and Glenanne, won comfortably against Railway Union and Aer lingus, 3-1 and 2-0, respectively. It was notable that Justin Sherriff was again on the target for Pembroke, meaning that he has scored in all nine matches in the first half of the league.
Kevin O'Brien, the youngest member of Railway's prolific family, put away his first goal at senior level.
While Trinity went under 2-1 to Avoca, in their continuing struggle in the first division, UCD remain unvanquished in their quest for promotion.
Stephen Tilson scored again in the 5-2 defeat of Suttonians, and the Belfield team have also reached the Leinster Under-21 Cup final against Three Rock Rovers by defeating the holders Glennane 3-2.
