A 2-2 draw with Leinster on Sunday meant that Ulster relinquished their Boys’ Interprovincial title.
The point was enough to dash Ulster’s dream of retaining the crown as a penalty from St. Kevin’s talisman Jake Walker fifteen minutes from time was converted at the second time of asking ensuring a tremendous thirteenth title in seventeen years for the province.
Leinster remained unbeaten in the campaign having secured a comprehensive 4-0 demolition of Munster on Friday evening, followed up by a scoreless draw against Connacht on Saturday afternoon.
In the final series on Sunday, it was the Ulster side chasing a win while Leinster only needed to draw to take the silverware. Both teams were well up for this contest and it showed early on.
Ulster produced some fine football in the opening exchanges resulting in a sophisticated assault on the Leinster goal. A legitimate call for a penalty was waved away inside the first five minutes as Ulster pressed for an early advantage.
However it was Grennan College student Colm Whelan who put his team one up inside the first quarter of an hour with a splendid finish to slot past Carn’s Daniel Houghton.
Whelan was gifted a second moments later but his stylish antics saw him side foot the ball to the side-netting much to the youngster’s frustrations.
Ulster equalised six minutes later as the talented Michael Gallagher (St. Eunan’s College) netted.
The deadlocked remained at the interval, one apiece.
Gallagher then converted for a second time eleven minutes into the restart to give Paul Browne’s men a fighting chance of victory.
However their resurgence was short lived as Leinster were to be awarded their own penalty fifteen minutes from time. Goalkeeper Houghton did extremely well to palm the ball away with the initial strike but the versatile Jake Walker snatched onto the rebound to slot home to level things up.
A frantic final 15 minutes ensued which saw some rash tackles committed from both sides. The dismissal of Corrie Lee Bogan (St. Columba’s College) and goal-scorer Jake Walker (St. Kevin’s CC) marred the final few minutes of an otherwise fruitful game as they both saw red with 70 minutes on the clock. Leinster held out in an extended injury time period for the vital point which was enough to see them overcome a determined Ulster side in a classic match.
Ulster made the perfect start to the defense of their Interprovincial title when they overcame a spirited Connacht side in the AUL Complex on Friday evening with Paul Browne’s men winning out 3-0 in a highly entertaining encounter.
Corrie Lee Bogan of St. Columba’s College netted on nine minutes after some great work down the flank from St Eunan’s student Michael Gallagher.
Deele College’s Ethan Coll scored a screamer from distance to make it 2-0 with 53 minutes played.
The contest was wrapped up two minutes from time as Stephen Doherty (Scoil Mhuire) converted to make it 3-0 to the defending Champions.
Ulster then suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Munster on Saturday before drawing with Leinster.
Ulster: Daniel Houghton & Fionn McClure (Carndonagh Community School), Corrie-Lee Bogan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Scott Prendergast, Seosamh Sheerin & Josh Hannon (Virginia College), Ethan Harkin (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), James Carolan, Michael Gallagher & Connor O’Reilly (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Adam O’Connor (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff), Liam Murray (Patrician High School, Carrickmacross), Ethan Coll (Deele College, Raphoe), Stephen Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Mark McAteer (Mulroy College, Milford), Aaron Mulligan (Ballybay Community College)
Management: Paul Browne & David O’Herlihy (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny)
