Ulster U19s were narrowly beaten in a shootout following a 1-1 draw with Wales in Cardiff this evening.
Isaac Kelso had given Ulster the lead in the fourth quarter before the hosts equalised with an agonising 25 seconds remaining on the clock before winning the shootout 3-2.
It took just two minutes for Ulster to get the first chance of the game, having won the first penalty corner of the tie. However, Captain on the day, Adam Duffield saw his drag flick charged down by the Welsh first runner.
Midway through the quarter Ulster had another chance to open the scoring when Ethan Redford drove through the centre of the pitch before sending his strike from the top of the circle just wide of the far post.
With the sides scoreless at the end of the first period, Matthew Lunn went clsose to breaking the deadlock after 20 mintues when he combined with JJ Holley on the baseline before missing the target with his strike.
The chances continued to come for Ulster with Redford going close once more. Again driving through the middle of the pitch, the midfielder cut across the top of the circle before sending another effort just wide of the far post with a reverse shot.
Unable to capitalise on their chances, the sides went into the half-time break at a 0-0 stalemate.
Midway through the third quarter, Holley and Lunn combined at the halfway line before the latter was denied by the Welsh goalkeeper who was quick off his line to deny the Lisnagarvey forward from getting the first goal of the game.
Just two minutes later Ulster were awarded another penalty corner after Redford found a foot in the Welsh circle before the Cookstown midfielder narrowly missed the target with his resulting drag flick.
As the sides entered the final quarter, the deadlock was finally broken when Isaac Kelso fired in from the top of the circle.
The Cookstown midfielder intercepted a stray pass at the top of the circle before beating the Welsh goalkeeper at the near post to give Ulster a 1-0 lead.
However, with just 25 seconds left on the clock, Wales drew level.
Having won the ball deep in the Ulster half the hosts converted in the dying stages of the game and forced the sides to a shootout.
It was then that Wales came out on top to seal a 3-2 shootout victory.