The Ulster U16 squads both tasted defeat in their first games of 2025 as they hosted Scotland at Ulster University, Jordanstown this evening.
The games marked the start of our 2025 Interprovincial preparations, with four more games taking place at UUJ across this weekend.
The first game of the evening saw the girls’ side suffer a 4-1 defeat, despite heading into the final quarter level at 1-1.
After a quiet first quarter between which saw Scotland look the most threatening, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just five minutes into the second period.
An initial strike from the top of the circle was saved by Ulster shot-stopper Katie Dolan before a Scottish forward converted a close range rebound to make it 1-0.
Just two minutes later the Scots went close to adding a second when a brilliant reverse strike clipped the post of Dolan’s goal and stayed out.
Instead, it was Ulster who got the games second goal when Zara Moyo broke through on goal before drawing a foul from the opposition goalkeeper and winning a penalty stroke for her side.
Defender Camryn Wilson was the designated taker and picked out the side netting to draw her side level going into the half-time break.
At the start of the third quarter there was a chance for Ulster to take the lead when Moyo won the ball back off a Scottish defender before Madison Molloy sent her effort from the top of the circle just wide of the far post.
Level at the end of the third quarter, it wasn’t to be for the young Ulster side who conceded a penalty corner early into the fourth quarter before two late Scottish goals saw the scoreline ramped up to 4-1.
In the second game of the evening, a Josh Gill strike wasn’t enough for the boys’ to get a result against their Scottish counterparts as they lost 5-1.
A slow start for Ulster was capitalised upon by their visitors when a turnover in defence saw the Scots two versus one with goalkeeper Ernie Kells before they took the lead.
Just two minutes later, they doubled their advantage when a loose ball fell perfectly for a Scottish forward in the goalmouth to make it 2-0 before a third Scottish goal was added before the end of the first quarter.
The visitors attacking threat continued into the second period when a another ball was played across the face of the Ulster goal, leaving a forward with an open goal to give Scotland a 4-0 lead at half-time.
A much improved third quarter from Ulster saw the side grow into the game before Josh Gill found a goal back for his side midway through the fourth.
The forward drove along the byline before finding a yard of space in front of goal and picking out the far corner to bring the scoreline to 4-1.
However, almost immediately from the restart, the Scots restored their four goal advantage to seal a 5-1 win in the first of three games at UUJ for the side this weekend.
The sides are back in action once more tomorrow afternoon as they host Scotland once more at UUJ with the action getting underway from 12:30pm.