The Ulster U18s drew 2-2 with Leinster before suffering a shoot-out defeat in this afternoon’s fixture at Comber Road.
Goals from Ed Irwin and Frank Hollway earned the side a point at the end of normal time, but ultimately the side were condemned to a 4-3 shoot-out loss as Leinster took the bonus point.
With eight minutes on the clock, Leinster took the lead. Quickly working the ball from back to front, the visitors broke down the right wing before picking out an unmarked forward who fired in from the top of the circle.
As the quarter came to an end, Ulster were top, winning serveral penalty corners, but Ed Irwin saw his efforts on goal blocked before the danger was cleared.
Five minutes into the second quarter, Ulster went close once more as Jack Magowan picked out Ethan Redford at the top of the circle but his strike went just wide of the post.
After no further chances it was Leinster who went into the second half ahead.
However just two minutes after the restart Ulster went close once more as Ed Irwin saw another effort from a corner blocked before Sam Holmes was called into action at the other end.
The Ulster side finally got their goal on the brink of the third stoppage.
Leading the counter attack, Paddy Brown broke through the Leinster defence before being brought down by the goalkeeper and earning a penalty stroke.
The resulting penalty was eventually converted by Ed Irwin, netting his third goal of the competition to send his side into the break level.
Just two minutes into the final quarter, the entertaining game continued as Frank Hollway was left unmarked in the circle before firing in from the penalty spot to put his side 2-1 ahead.
Unfortunately, immediately from the restart, Leinster found themselves back in front, having won a penalty corner, the side fired into the bottom left corner to quickly draw level.
As the game was drawing to a close, the hosts could have found a winner when Isaac Kelso was picked out in the circle, but he saw his close-range effort crash off the post before the visitors cleared the danger.
Level at full-time, the sides went to a penalty shoot-out, where it was Leinster who came out on top with a 4-3 win to claim the bonus point.
PHOTO: Hockey Ireland