A penalty corner hat trick by the Lisnagarvey captain, Robbie Taylor, gave young Ulster a surprisingly clear cut win over Munster in the opening game of the Interprovincial hockey championship at Serpentine Avenue last night.
Ivan Bateman, Europe's number lone goalkeeper, had precious little chance under the floodlights of keeping out Taylor's powerful flicks into the roof of the net in the 35th, 46th and 63rd minutes.
The new look Ulster side with Taylor the only Lisnagarvey player in action, as Daniel Clarke and Julian Stevenson had failed to survive the battering by Avoca last weekend showed a clinical technique, exemplified by Neil Cooke, that Munster could not break down.
Greg Sterritt and Errol Lutton yielded nothing at the back and the only time that Kyle Thompson needed to save sharply was when Darren Hanna fired in a snap shot early in the second half.
Jason Black made a most competent debut at the back for Munster, but Robbie Ryan found himself in a subdued role at sweeper as Ulster were more menacing in attack, particularly through Chris Jackson on the right win.
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