Sunday, March 15, 2009

Ulster claim men's Interprovincials

Munster 5 (John Jermyn 3, Nigel Buttimer, David Hobbs) Ulster 5 (Peter Caruth 2, Chris Cargo, Jonny Quigley, Mark Gleghorne)
Ulster went into the final game of the men's interpros with all the aces following their 3-1 second-half conquering of Leinster. It meant they could afford to lose by a single-goal margin and still win back the Leinster Regiment Cup.

They were given a severe fright, though, by a John Jermyn-inspired Munster who three the kitchen sink at Ulster - who rested Saturday heroes Eugene Magee and Timmy Cockram - in their efforts to grab an unlikely victory.

Jermyn opened the scoring with first of ten goals in the fifth minute, flicking high to the top left corner. Bruce McCandless' effort was blocked by Mark Ruddle soon after but Chris Cargo bagged the rebound - the converted defender reveling in his forward role for his second in two games after a late call-up.

But two Munster goals in 30 seconds had a famous upset on the cards. Conor Harte's crash ball found it's way into veteran Nigel Buttimer's path and he duly netted and Gareth Lennox could only get have a touch to Jermyn's reverse for the ball to dribble over the line for 3-1.

Ulster, though, were not finished yet and managed to end a cracking first half on level terms. Colin Donaldson played in Jonny Quigley for 2-3 and Mark Gleghorne found room to play in Peter Caruth and the sides went in at the break all-square - advantage Ulster.

After the scorers were given a brief respite, Munster hit the front for the third time twenty minutes into the second period when David Hobbs finished tidily after a series of short corners.

Gleghorne's low drag made it even yet again in the 60th minute before Jason Lynch (pictured, right) was sin-binned against his old colleagues for a stick tackle, followed by preventing a quick-free by knocking the ball away.

During his absence, Quigley found Caruth to give Ulster their first lead in the 65th minute and look certainties to take the competition. Quigley then replaced Lynch in the sin-bin as Munster piled on the pressure. The offence led to a free-in upgraded to a corner.

Conor Harte ballooned one effort over the bar and another corner ensued which Jermyn ripped into the net to tie up as lively game as your likely to see at 5-5.

Final Standings (points/goal difference):
1. Ulster 4pts (+2) 2. Leinster 3pts (0) 3. Munster 1pt (-2)

* For more of Eoin Tyrell's pictures from this weekend's Interprovincials, click here

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is the rule in cup matches when the floodloghts fail? Is there a certain time period to get them back on before the match has to be replayed?

Anonymous said...

"What is the rule in cup matches when the floodloghts fail? Is there a certain time period to get them back on before the match has to be replayed?"

N0-one answered your other post so you asked here where it also has nothing to do with the topic.
Get on to the Leinster Branch if you need to know that bad!

Anonymous said...

It's wrong to suggest that Eugene and Timmy were rested for Ulster. Both players were injured after Saturday's game, and saying that they were rested only disrespects the Muster squad.

Anonymous said...

Those who say Ulster hockey is on the slide, should take a good look at the interpro matches this weekend. A weakened Ulster side, missing David Ames, Geoff McCabe, and Mikie Watt, turned over a Leinster side who thought they had already won the interpros when they took on Ulster on Saturday. Shows exactly how much talent there is north of the border these days.

Anonymous said...

One swallow mate...

Fair play to Ulster, took their chances against Leinster. These shotgun tournaments, though, don't tell a massive amount about the relative strengths in each province.

As scratch teams, with each side complaining of a lack of adequate training in the build-up, how seriously do we take the results?

Anonymous said...

From today's Indo:

"The interprovincial championship concluded with a goal glut yesterday as Ulster and Munster shared 10 scores in a 5-5 draw at Garryduff, with the northerners winning a trophy that may not be contested next season."

Have they heard something we haven't?

Alan Good said...

I gather there will be a forum in the coming months to discuss the future format and general viability of the interpros. But to say they may not be contested next year is still a bit premature.

Alan Good said...

Also, to be fair to Steve, I supplied him with incorrect info regarding Magee/Cockram not being involved. It was only later I learned they were injured.