Hockey Ireland Inter Provincial Series U18 & U16 Women – Round-Up Oct 8, 2023
Under 16 Girls
Leinster South 2-0 Connacht
In Mullingar at Wilson’s Hospital School Leinster South played Connacht. In the under 16 game it was close all the way with Connacht on the attack for the most part before Sarah Richardson scored for Leinster South just at the the end of Q3. That took the wind out of Connacht. Olivia Gibson scored in the final quarter to give Leinster South a two goal cushion and they closed out Q4 without conceding.
Munster 1-3 Leinster
In Cork at the UCC Mardyke arena Leinster paid a visit to Munster and while it took a little while for them to settle they came away with a comfortable 3-1 win. Goals were scored by Daisy Costello, Juliette Duffy and Hollaí Quinn with a lone response from Munster by Emma Grace.
Standings: The win for Leinster sees them go to top of the Under 16 girls table on 9 points and are guaranteed a place in the final to be played on 12th November. Ulster have 6 points with two games to go. Leinster South have gone into 3rd place with 3 points
Under 18 Girls
Munster 1-4 Leinster
Leinster U18s had a convincing win against Munster in Cork at the UCC Mardyke arena – winning out 4-1. Goals from Milla Fulton, Sophie Kennedy, Aliya Davis and Matilda Erico. Munster goal-scorer was Rachel Somers.
Leinster South 2-1 Connacht
Back in Mullingar the game between Leinster South and Connacht was a tight match with Leinster South looking the more composed team with some good link play between their players. But it was close to the end of Q3 before Leinster South managed to take the lead with a goal from Amy Handcock. Q4 was a lively quarter with Connacht equalising through a penalty stroke, scored by Maeve McLoughlin, and then within 2 minutes Leinster South took the lead again through another penalty stroke taken by Amy Handcock.
Standings: The Under 18 girls table looks just the same as the Under 16s with Leinster sure of the place in the final. Ulster are in 2nd place with a game against Leinster South on 22nd October before their matchup with Leinster at the end of the month. Leinster South are also in 3rd place with two tough fixtures ahead of them
