Munster take laurels

For the first time since 1982 Munster won the Vera McWeeney Cup at the under-21 interprovincial championship, held in Kilkenny over the weekend. Three wins and a draw were more than enough for Ann Logan's team to end the domination of Ulster, champions since 1986.

"It's a fantastic boost for Munster hockey, I'm absolutely thrilled with them," said Logan after a 1-1 draw with South East yesterday clinched the title. "We played fabulous, creative, attacking hockey and I'm so happy that our efforts have been rewarded in this way."

Munster opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Ulster on Saturday with the ever impressive Emer Cregan scoring the only goal of the game after 10 minutes, sweeping home a Cathy Kennefick cross from the wing. Ulster had plenty of possession in the game but rarely threatened Munster goalkeeper Orla McCarthy.

They finished the day top of the table on maximum points after beating Connacht 5-0, with Kennefick scoring twice to add to goals from Elaine Bromell, Viv Fenton and Cregan again, and picked up from where they left off yesterday morning when a second-half goal from Emily Fitzgibbon gave them a 1-0 win over Leinster. All Munster needed to win the tournament was a point against South East but they looked set to take all three when Sarah Canning scored with five minutes to go. South East, though, levelled in the dying seconds through Claire Larkin to deny Munster a 100 per cent record.

Logan was reluctant to single out any of her players for praise but, by common consent, few matched the contribution of Irish under-21 international and Munster captain Elaine Bromell. Two years ago, again under the guidance of Logan, Bromell captained the under-18s to victory at the interprovincials in Kilkenny, most of whom were on this year's under-21 squad. Next stop the senior interprov incials? "Steady," said Logan, "but, you never know."

South East, coached by Siobhan Keogh (ably assisted by Nicola King and Edel Hallissey) also had a fine tournament, drawing with Leinster and Munster before tired legs got the better of them in a 5-0 defeat by Ulster in the final match of the event. The win lifted Ulster into second place, ahead of South East and Leinster, who drew their final game against Connacht.