Ulster Senior League manager Anthony Gorman says the weekend’s FAI Intermediate Inter-League Tournament showed just how good the talent is within the League.
The Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League might only have seven participants at the moment, but an impressive weekend at the tournament in Galway saw the USL squad compete for the honours.
Ultimately, a 2-1 defeat to eventual winners Leinster on Friday night meant the USL side had to settle for second spot.
“It’s disappointing that we didn’t win the trophy, but we can take a lot of positives,” Gorman said.
“It was very good. Bar 20 minutes on Friday night when we conceded two bad goals, our performance has been really positive and some of the football we played at times has been really outstanding.
“A lot of credit has to go to the players for the effort. We couldn’t ask for any more than what they gave us.
“We have undoubted talent in the League. We had players from Cockhill, Letterkenny, Fanad Bonagee and Derry City.
“We had a good pool of players with us and there is a lot to work with.
“For our game on Friday, we had ten players with League of Ireland experience. The talent is there and it bodes well.”
The tournament will be hosted by the USL next year and Gorman’s crew will be hopeful of reclaiming the Michael Ward Trophy.
Tony McNamee and Pajo Rafferty secured a 2-1 win over Connacht on Saturday while McNamee, Conor Tourish and Oisin McMenamin netted in Sunday’s 3-1 win against Munster.
Gorman said: “The Munster game was probably our best 90 minutes.
“They didn’t really threaten bar a period early on. When you play Munster and have 65 or 70 per cent of the ball and you’re playing the ball in their half, it’s something to be very pleased with.
“They put in a massive effort to that game. It was almost five-a-side football at times. It’s not just great to watch, but it’s very effective too.
“If we hadn’t played well or done ourselves justice we’d have been more disappointed. Friday’s was a game we should have taken something out of. We played very well in the second half. The boys gave everything.
“We got the rewards in the next two games.”
FAI Intermediate Inter-League Tournament
Friday, November 17, 2017
Leinster Senior League 2-1 Ulster Senior League
Connacht Football Association 0-2 Munster Senior League
Saturday, November 18, 2017, 2.30pm
Ulster Senior League 2-1 Connacht Football Association
Munster Senior League 0-3 Leinster Senior League
Sunday, November 19, 2017, 11.30am
Leinster Senior League 2-1 Connacht Football Association
Munster Senior League 1-3 Ulster Senior League
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