Impressive wins over Ulster (4-1) and Connacht (4-0) set the men up for a tournament decider with Munster this afternoon.
And they prevailed late on, Ben Wallace and Dave Wilson striking late on to run up a 3-1 win over the southerners. Wilson had given the blues the lead early on only for Eric Callendar to tie the game up with 20 minutes to go to set up a grandstand finish to the tournament with any winner deciding the competition.
And, while Munster gave Leinster some nervy moments, Kilkenny’s Ben Wallace grabbed his third of the tournament on the break to swing the momentum his side’s way.
Wilson copper-fastened the tie as he snapped up a half chance deep into the second half to confirm the title. It was a title built around an impressive midfield performance with John Lazenby a guiding light, flanked by Trinity’s Dan Ryan and Avoca’s Peter Haughton while Shane Dooley captained the side.
They got off to the perfect start when they put four past Ulster, Michael Styles scoring from the penalty spot while Ryan, Wilson and Wallace were also on the mark. Ryan, Wallace and Wilson also struck along with Lazenby in the win over Connacht on Sunday morning to end a fine weekend’s work.
On the women’s side, Leinster missed out on an unlikely title as they fell 2-0 to Munster in the final game of the weekend. They required an eight goal win from that final tie to annex the title from Ulster who were in search of three in-a-row but that never looked likely as Kay Gaffney and Orla Cotter did the necessary.
The weekend started well for Leinster, tying 0-0 with Ulster before picking up a 3-0 win over the South East, Anne-Marie McKeown bagging two and Sally Cory also on the mark.
On Sunday, Cory’s single strike kept Leinster in the running with a 1-0 win over Connacht however Ulster’s 7-0 win over South East left a huge mountain to climb in goal difference terms. And they were unable to ever truly threaten a famous victory against Munster.
Men’s Junior Interprovincials:
Results:
Saturday: Leinster 4 (M Styles, D Ryan, D Wilson, B Wallace) Ulster 1 (P McKeown); Ulster 3 Connacht 1; Munster 3 Connacht 1
Sunday: Leinster 4 (D Ryan, D Wilson, B Wallace, J Lazenby) Connacht 0; Munster 1 Ulster 0; Leinster 3 (D Wilson 2, B Wallace) Munster 1 (E Callendar)
Final standings: 1. Leinster 9pts (+9) 2. Munster 6pts (+1) 3. Ulster 3pts (-2) 4. Connacht 0pts (-9)
ESB Women’s Junior Interprovincials:
Results:
Saturday: Munster 2 Connacht 0; Ulster 0 Leinster 0; South East 0 Connacht 3; Munster 2 Ulster 5; Leinster 3 (Anne-Marie McKeown 2, Sally Cory) South East 0
Sunday: Ulster 2 Connacht 0; Munster 1 South East 1; Connacht 0 Leinster 1 (Sally Cory); South East 0 Ulster 7; Munster 2 Leinster 0
Final standings: 1. Ulster 10pts (+12) 2. Leinster 7pts (+2) 3. Munster 6pts (+1) 4. Connacht 3pts (-5) 5. South East 0pts (-13)
29 comments:
That wilson's a goal machine. The goalatron.
Legend.
Really...i really do question whether Leinster credentials should be given for this standard of hockey. I do understand that some people might find that statement controversial but I have played at 1st and 2nd XI senior level and this is not a standard that really deserves interpr status in my opinion...I honestly would like to hear sensible arguments that might make me alter my view.
I presume that's Craig Wilson or is it actually...Dave Wilson?
Definitely Dave Wilson.
yea its david that was on the team and they were a nice 4 goals
he got 4 goals in 3 matchs big help to the team and was vice captain!!!
THERE IS MORE TO HOCKEY THAN DIV 1, IT IS GOOD TO SEE OTHERS GETTING A CHANCE TO REPRESNT THEIR PROVINCES
As someone that watched the inter-pro tournament at the weekend I am disappointed in 11.31 comment! Not all players can play in Div 1. Otherwise there would be no need for any other division!! So if your team happen to be in a lower division does that mean that you don't deserve to represent your province????? Had you been to the competition at the weekend (which obviously you were not!) the standard was actually very high and proved to be very entertaining to watch! Both men's and womens team did their province proud and deserve that recognition!
ben wallace what a hero!!!!!
Have to agree with some of the comments why should someone outside of the top tier represent their province? This isn't Sunday school where everybody gets a prize. Accolades like provincial representation should be hard earned.
I wonder who creates a better image of hockey in this country? These so called "undeserving" leinster juniors who are doin their best to represent leinster while not taking it too seriously and being fully aware that in terms of talent they are nowhere near the other representative sides. Playing games full of fair play, comradery and the spirit of amateurism. Or Glennane and fingals aggro but much praised thugs slugging it out. I wonder which one most people in leinster hockey identify with?
I completly agree with your comments re fair play, comradery, amateurism etc. But these values are best represented and exhibited in the leinster junior leagues and possibly national competitions such as the hockey trophy etc. not in some mock interprovincial competition.
I'm a bit dismayed by some of the attitudes above. Virtually every sport has these types of competitions for non-elite players.
Dublin junior footballers play in a Leinster championship, there are FAI amateur international soccer teams...
ok, so you don't play top-tier but it is still an honour and gives an opportunity to some players that may never get a similar thing.
think about kilkenny and navan players, when was the last time they had current leinster senior players?
Well this "mock" tournament involved Leinster playing 4 competitive games in two days. Where we held the eventual winners to a 0-0 draw and only lost the final game to Munster because we went all out attack needing 8 goals to win the tournament! If playing that amount of games in 2 days and coming second overall is not "earning" your medal then I don't know what is! If we adopted the Sunday school mentality and everyone would get a prize then there would be alot more competitions than just the senior,junior and U21's!!! I was very proud to represent Leinster at the weekend and I thought that we had done ourselves and our province very proud. Looks like I was wrong on the latter!!
some of the players on that leinster junior team would slot into a div 1 team but they choose to stay with their clubs and try to build them up but after all its a team sport the likes on dan ryan wud get onto a div 1 team with no problem he has amazing control and skill!!!!!
Good to see Connaught entering a team as it has to be good for that provinces development. Must be hard work in Connaught to keep mens hockey alive.
Regarding comment 11.31 - I can tell you that I have witnessed 2 players that went on to play for Ireland and were spotted originally at junior interprovincials level before anything else and were really given a chance to shine in this tournament. I think that it should be encouraged more and gives people who are not Irish internationals the chance to play to the highest level. It is not easy to be selected to play for your province and anyone who does should be proud. Also - maybe you have never experienced playing for your province because someone who has would not make such a comment. I also agree with 3.59 - most people on these teams could definately play div1 but dont for various reasons.
I am the 11.31 poster. Just come back from work, have read through the comments since yesterday and am a sorry if this has got some people annoyed. Having read the argumenst for these interpros I would agree that they are great for all those involved, create an opportunity for players to get have a different competitive experience and a worthwhile one. I accept that this is good for young players and agree that on mnany levels the juniors can show the seniors what sportmanship and the game is about. Apologies and well done to all involved.
Listen lets not get carried away. I'm all for this tournament and believe it serves a purpose and its good that interprovincial honours are given to people from junior levels, why not? But to say that many of the players on show would slot into a Div 1 team is pushing it.
The standard is a long, long way from Div 1.
Will ya get real... Name the 2 players who went from junior interpro to senior international. No chance
To:
March 15, 2010 9:01 PM
I couldn't agree more with you..This is a great tournament for the players who play in the Junior Leagues, it gives them the honour of representing Leinster and showing how good they are. To say that anybody on the squad could make a division 1 squad though is foolish....Lets take the Leinster Junior Squad of 2007 when it had 6 Clontarf first team players on it..the team finished 1st in the League of Provinces however look at Clontarf in Divsiion 1, a bit harsh I know, but Not good enough for Division 1.
i played leinster juniors about 4 or 5 years ago and i have also played division 1 for a team who doesn't yoyo between divisions. i can think of a few others who were on that squad with me who have done the same thing. i know players from the 'big clubs' don't like to think it but there are a couple of players in most of the div 2 sides who would be able to cut it in div 1.
Current div 1 player
Agreed not all would cut in div 1 but around half would. If you want Irish hockey to be just about div 1 good luck because if that's the case the level of hockey will never improve in Ireland as there already is low competition for our Irish players in leagues around ireland so surely we should be trying to improve the standard in all provinces overall??
Also, why shouldnt there be something for players that are not div 1 standard. Should players who are not just not bother???!
fair play to the 7:05 poster. Nice to see someone be open to listening to an opposing opinion and changing their mind
I've played in this tournament for many years and I've certainly seen some good young players in it who went on to greater things - many who forged good careers in div 1, some who went on to senior interpros (Colm Brady, Alan Browne,etc) some full international (Gordy Elliot, if I'm not mistaken, and there may be more). It's always been enjoyable and sporting, forges good links between players and officials from different provinces, and can provide a useful springboard for young players to get experience of an interprovincial tournament. There's surely something comendable about all of that, no?
It also provides an invaluable lift to Connacht and midlands hockey - not important to those who take a SoCo Dublin view of hockey, but worthwhile to those who care about the broader development of the game in Ireland
To 11.31, i had a ball playing with the junior interpros last weekend. The standard was good and it proved a worthwhile exercise in bringing a province together that is all too often split by the ridiculous notions that you have spouted in your original post. You have since apologised but personally i believe you were either looking for attention or are just clueless. I play for Navan, a club on the margins, and will never play for a senior province. But many of the young players i had the pleasure to play alongside have the potential and mindset to play at a higher level - providing they aren't continually shot down by close minded people like you. The team spirit was excellent as was the coaching and management. I only hope the leinster branch realise the hard work that went into this weekend and don't adopt the same elitist principles espoused by you. We'll see if the seniors can match our success!
its a good tournament and a great occasion for the lads to be involved with, but I don't believe "most people on these teams could definitely play div1 but don't for various reasons"....some may get onto a few div 1 teams but a lot of them would be well off the pace in div 1
sum of the younger people
on the team in the bigger clubs such as Karl Crosbe & Rhys Coleman(both glenanne and both under 18)
and Micheal Styles(Pembroke and still in school) and then such kilkenny people as Ben Wallace
and Trinty player as Dan Ryan
Who still hav a long time to grow and make big names in irish hockey
go on the spence!
as one of the players who played for leinster and have played in divison one before, i found the talent in the tournament to high above that of divison 3 and 2! alot of the players qould walk on to a divsion 2 team and make a dision 1 team as long as they are continuoisly put down by all this negitivity towards them. It is how players grow by gaining confidence and playing at a high level, the junior interpro's allows player to do this. I would say that player like Dan Ryan Ben Wallace Peter Haughton and Johnny from Killkenny will play divion one in the next2-3 years.
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