Saturday, March 14, 2009

Men's Interpros: Leinster 1 Ulster 3

Leinster 1 (Stephen Butler) Ulster 3 (Eugene Magee, Timmy Cockram, Chris Cargo)
Leinster blew a golden chance to wrap up the interpros this afternoon as they let a 1-0 half-time lead slip in the face of an impressive Ulster second half performance.

The first period saw Andy McConnell and Stephen Butler boss proceedings in midfield while Joe Brennan's long passing kept Ulster at arm's length. Their efforts culminated in three first half corners, the first of which was converted in the fourth minute by Butler - high to the top-right corner.

Gareth Watkins thought he had doubled the lead in the 11th minute when he slid the ball under Lennox but Mitch Darling was adjudged to have backed into a defender in the build-up and the effort was chalked off.

It meant the blues had just the one goal to show for a dominant half, though clear openings were few and far between.

And Leinster were made to pay after the break, the game undergoing an about-turn in a hectic three minute spell. Mark Gleghorne and Eugene Magee combined beautifully for the leveller in the 38th minute, Magee finishing sublimely after twisting a defender and Iain Walker from close-range.

Brennan went off injured a minute later when a snap-shot caught him nastily on the knee and within moments, Ulster were ahead. Timmy Cockram pinched the ball from Butler in midfield played in Mark Gleghorne who returned the favour for Cockram to zing reverse in at Walker's near post.

And late call-up Chris Cargo completed the win in the 45th minute with a crashing reverse, set up by a completely unmarked Magee. Leinster tried in vain to get back into the game, Alan Sothern going closest from one of four corners in the second half - winning that overall tally 7-1 - but Gleghorne took the effort off the line.

Johnny Jackson was superb in keeping the blue forces at bay while Butler sat out the last four minutes, receiving his marching orders for dissent.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

team sheets??

Anonymous said...

Well done Ulster.

Anonymous said...

brilliant

Anonymous said...

In the Corinthians v Railway U16 cup match yesterday, Corinthians were 2-0 down after 15 mins when the floodlights failed and didn't come back on for 15 minutes. Should the game have been replayed the next day does anyone know?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

I think "11.19am" is a bit confused regarding where he comes from?

You refer to "our" country going bust (ie Ireland), yet you want us to stay on after a bit of shopping and play in the strongest league in Ireland?

I think what you meant to say is that you have the most competitive league in Northern Ireland!

Anonymous said...

5-5
Ulster Champs

get in there!!!!

Anonymous said...

good to see Northern Ireland winning the men's inter pros. Rest of you guys just ain't good enough. For Leinster to have the most attacking minded team - they scored the least goals.

Anonymous said...

maybe the leinster selectors should have gone with last years team. team being the operative word. The big leinster players are selfish and individual players.

Anonymous said...

5.47pm,thats a little harsh don't you think?who would you consider as being selfish on the leinster squad?knowing a lot of those guys i don't see them as selfish players at all

Anonymous said...

11.19, that comment was uncalled for and quite frankly such bigoted comments have no place here. Politics has no place in sport. Ulster did well to win the tournament yes, but true sportsmanship doesnt gloat. Pride comes before a fall...

Anonymous said...

How was the Leinster squad picked?Doesnt seem to be trials anymore,just based on hearsay and individual opinions...im disappointed they didnt win.

Anonymous said...

I think there could well have been alot of selfishness in that particular Leinster squad. Maybe they should have let some of the more selfless players in the squad take a bigger role and then perhaps they may have created better team performances!

Anonymous said...

here here well done for removing that comment steve. No place for that in hockey. have a long hard look at yourself mate. Well done Ulster too many primadonna's on the Leinster side, some bad selections as well. Coaches have to front up and take the blame.

Anonymous said...

Not sure if any of the previous posters were at the tournament but as someone who considers themselves neutral I thought some of Leinsters hockey was exceptional over the 2 games. If it wasn't for some top quality goalkeeping on Friday it could have been 8 or 9. There was no evidence of selfishness looking over the fence. In the Ulster game it looked like mentally the early goal suckered the team into believing they might score heavily again but the chances didn't come as Ulster and John Jackson in particular defended well and stepped up their own performance after the break and took their chances. Congrats to Ulster but well played Leinster and Munster. The future is bright for the mens game.

Anonymous said...

10:52pm, by considering yourself as neutral, i presume your not from any of the 3 provinces? Either way, I would never put the disappointing outcome of the tournament down to great goal keeping. That appears as an excuse. In relation to the selfishness in previous blogs, I think I know where that blogger is coming from. I would perceive that comment directed at some of the senior international players on the leinster squad who at club level believe themselves to be bigger then their own club teams. all you have to look at, is how they talk to their own players.

Anonymous said...

knowing all of these guys (theinternational players on the leinster squad), I can safely say that bar maybe one player none of them come across as guys who think that they are bigger than their own clubs,and to say that about anyone is hugely unfair.These guys give up so much to play for their country and train like professional athletes in order to do so and i can bet that if you ask any of their club mates they will have only positive things to say about them.

Leinster played some superb hockey in both games from what i've heard but their legs went a bit in the second half of the ulster game which led to some errors creeping in i reckon,ulster took advantage of this and got the win,well done to them,end of

Anonymous said...

Ulster were very clinical throughout the tournament but nothing new there in my opinion. Leinster seemed to tire badly in the second half of the ulster match and losing joe brennan was massive as he was controlling the game for Leinster.

Anonymous said...

yesssssssssssssssssssssssss

Anonymous said...

What extraordinary nasty,snide comments about Leinster players,from a Monkstown player as well.
Did he expect 4/5/6 Monkstown players on the team.
Seems so.
For an unbiased view of Leinsters proformance log on to The Southern Fried blog or read Irish Examiner,one player ,a "senior inter-national player"had a hand in ALL Leinster goals,either by scoring or setting them up.Open your eyes and mind.