Champions Ulster take advantage of Stronge start

Ulster opened the defence of their women's senior interprovincial title at Bangor last evening with a 3-0 victory over Connacht while Leinster got their challenge off to a winning start, beating Munster by the same scoreline in the day's second game. Tamara Stronge gave Ulster the lead when she pounced to score, following a penalty corner breakdown, in the eighth minute and nine minutes before halftime Claire McGookin made it 20 with a goal scored from another corner breakdown. But for Mary Goode, who came on as Connacht's substitute goalkeeper in the second half, Ulster could have, at the very least, doubled their lead. Goode made six outstanding saves to deny the hosts but was powerless to prevent Julie Doak making it 3-0 in the 55th minute. Leinster took the lead against Munster after 17 minutes when UCD's Ciara O'Brien scored and two more goals from Loreto's Cathy McKean either side of half time sealed the win.

Meanwhile, it was the day of the underdogs at Grange Road yesterday when Loreto, Bray and High School won their Leinster Schools' Senior Cup semi-finals, beating Wesley College and Loreto Dalkey respectively in thrilling, entertaining games.

Emily McManus gave Bray the lead five minutes before halftime when she turned home Catherine Murray's short-corner strike, but Sarah Walker levelled three minutes after the break with a superb solo goal. Walker broke from midfield, carried the ball through to the left of the circle and sent a reverse stick strike in to the bottom right corner of the goal.

Just two minutes later Linda Byrne scored what proved to be the winner for Bray, deflecting Leah Spillane's ferocious corner strike past Christina Proctor. Bray then weathered an intense period of Wesley pressure, with valiant defending from Linda O'Neill and goalkeeping from Laura Doyle helping them through to the final.

There they will meet High School, who beat Loreto, Dalkey 4-3 on penalty strokes after normal and extra-time had failed to produce a goal. Dalkey had the better of the game but High School defended superbly and goalkeeper Natalie May made a string of excellent saves. High School captain Debbie Walker kept her nerve to convert the stroke that booked her school their place in the final.

LEINSTER SCHOOLS' SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS (at Grange Road) - Loreto Bray 2 (E McManus, L Byrne), Wesley College 1 (S Walker); High School 0, Loreto Dalkey 0 - High School won 4-3 on strokes.

LORETO BRAY: L Doyle, T Kelly, S Doyle, A Challoner, L O'Neill, C Joyce, C Murray, I Joyce, L Byrne, L Spillane, E McManus. Subs: S O'Toole, R Freeman, L Barrie, G Howe, A M Lynch.

WESLEY COLLEGE: C Proctor, E Delahunt, S Walker, S Geoffroy, L Beck, R Wallace, P Agar, A Carson, R Stuart, N Symmons, D Porter. Subs: E Braitwaite, L Jenkinson, H Comiskey, R Carson, L McCoy.

HIGH SCHOOL: N May, A Camier, B McFarland, R Cox, R Draper, R O'Reilly, D Walker, R McSharry, K Cramp, J Hickey, L Dolan. Subs: E Holmes, K Baird, K McMahon, M Willoughby, S Keogh.

LORETO DALKEY: H O'Brien, D Keohane, F Grehan, P Grehan, C Crowley, A Daibhis, K Dillon, S Dunphy, J Walsh, C Walsh, E Willis. Subs: R Beales, L Lavelle, J Cunningham, S Gallagher, V Kerr, R Conlon.