Ulster take their first senior Interprovincial title in forty years!!!

FORTY years may be a long time to have to wait for silver ware but when you beat the reigning champions in the process, it is all the more sweeter, as was the case when Ulster took their first senior Gael-Linn Interprovincial championship title in forty years beating the holders Leinster, 2-12 to 3-8 in Russell Park, Blanchardstown.

It was a great triumph for Ulster who earlier had a tough semi-final against Munster, 4-9 to 2-10, while Leinster went straight through to the final having received a walkover from Connacht. Captained by Derry’s Junior All-Ireland championship winning captain Claire Doherty, they set about it in a very team like performance. Down’s excellent Fionnuala Carr, daughter of former dual player Ross along side her fellow county player Moya Magin made it a day to recall for the Ulster girls who were appearing in their first senior final since 2003.

Ahead 0-11 to 1-4 for Leinster at the break, two second half goals from player of the senior Tournament, Antrim’s Jane Adams gave Ulster the winning feeling. However, the reigning champions gave it everything and had a fine player in Kilkenny’s Aoife Neary, who finished the day with a hat-trick of goals, one in the first half and a brace of goals in the second period. Considering that the Leinster team had players from the All-Ireland senior champions, Wexford, Dublin and Kilkenny to pick from this was a great victory for Ulster who picked from Down, Antrim and junior All-Ireland winners Derry who had star performances in Grßinne Mc Goldrick and SinÚad Cassidy.

 Ulster’s only ever second senior title it should augur well for camogie in the season ahead, making it a good year for Ulster with the colleges senior A All-Ireland title having gone there as well as the junior All-Ireland title and who knows maybe Santa will deliver another one or two presents to Ulster before the season closes!

There was some consolation for Leinster as they triumphed over Munster 3-16 to 0-11 in the junior final where once again Laois star Louise Mahony was player of the match having won that accolade in the Gala Junior championship Final, Neans Ui Mhuiri, Cup. Mahony finished the day with 1-10, while two further goals from Lizzie Lynch of Meath and Kilkenny’s Pauline Comerford put the call beyond Munster who earlier dealt a severe semi-final defeat to Ulster, 5-23 to 1-7.

Scorers:

Senior Final:

Ulster: 2-12: J Adams 2-5, S Cassidy,G Mc Goldrick 0-2 each, M Stewart, B Convery, K Mc Auley, 0-1 each.

Leinster: 3-8: A Neary 3-2, L O’Hara 0-4, M O’Leary, K Power 0-1 each.

Junior final:

Leinster: 3-16: L Mahony 1-10, P Comerford 1-1, L Lynch 1-0, A Farrell 0-3, J Dolan,P Greville 0-1 each.

Munster: 0-11: – Lyng 0-8, S Mc Mahon 0-2, S A O’Grady 0-1.

 

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