Double blow for Munster

Munster's hopes of retaining their Under-16 Interprovincial title ended at Garryduff yesterday when they were beaten 1-0 by both Ulster and Leinster, whose meeting today in the final match of the tournament should determine the 1998 winners of the McCullough Trophy. A 21st-minute goal from play by Susie Martin, in an outstanding game of open, attacking hockey, gave Ulster victory over the hosts in the first match of the day at the Garryduff Sports Centre. Later in the day, Munster, who missed a penalty stroke just before half-time, suffered their second defeat when Leah Spillane's 32nd-minute goal gave Leinster the points.

By then Leinster had already beaten South East 1-0, with a Catherine Murray goal from a short corner, and Ulster joined them at the top of the table on six points after their 2-0 win over Connacht.

Connacht gave themselves an outside chance of winning the title today by beating South East 2-1 in the day's final match. Captain Sinead Walsh (28th minute) and Caitlin Friel (36th) converted two of their team's 18 short corners before Alex Murphy scored a last minute consolation goal for South East.