The Ulster U16 and U18 boys got mixed results as they faced Leinster in the second Interpro fixtures yesterday.
Our U16s fell to a 5-1 defeat before their seniors recorded a 4-2 win later in the day.
In the early game, Leinster started off the better of the two sides and dominated the early stages before finally getting the breakthrough in the 16th minute.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 when the home side when a short corner and saw their initial strike saved, but unfortunately for Ulster, the rebound landed perfectly for another forward to convert from close range.
Just before half-time, Leinster should have wrapped the game up whenever they were awarded a penalty flick but Ulster’s luck changed as they sent it off target.
Moments later Ulster were back in the game when Matt Barett found the net in a very similar fashion to the hosts second, with a rebound from a short corner.
The goal seemingly gave our U16s a lift as they began the second half much better than they did the first and created a handful of chances throughout the third quarter but to no avail.
After a quiet start to the fourth quarter, the hosts doubled their advantage after catching Ulster on the counter to make it 3-1 before another two late goals in the closing moments made it 5-1 to the hosts.
The U18s also fell behind early against Leinster when they conceded the opening goal after just twelve minutes at Portrane Hockey Club.
However, they had the perfect response to going behind as George Palmer and Matthew McAreavey got two goals in as many minutes to put Ulster ahead before the end of the first quarter.
The U18s again got off to a slow start in the second quarter when Leinster equalised in the 23rd minute but the scores only remained level for ten minutes.
Ulster restored their lead through Ethan Clotworthy just moments before half time when JJ Holley picked out his teammate in the circle before Clotworthy scored from five yards out.
The third quarter of the fixture proved to be tense with very few chances for either side and Ulster looking on course for victory, but as the game entered the fourth period the hosts began to put pressure on the visiting defence.
Having held out, Ulster where awarded a short corner on the umpire’s final whistle and knowing the game was already won, Matthew McAreavey got his second of the game as his drag flick made it 4-2.
