THE ULSTER REPRESENTATIVE side went down to a 2-0 loss against Leinster in their opening fixture of the FAI Schoolboys Under 18 Inter-provincial tournament in the AUL Complex, Dublin.
Manager Paul Browne, who teaches at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny and assisted by Paddy Carr from Scoil Mhuire Buncrana, saw their team fall behind on 20 minutes when Ryan Byrne shot past Jason McCallion.
Leinster, the defending champions, continued to push the case but the half-time score was 1-0.
Ulster’s squad of 16 are all from Donegal bar Shane Corrigan of Monaghan.
In the second half, Ulster reverted to a 4-4-2 but having went 2-0 down when Jamie Aherne was on target, Browne’s team came into the contest more and more, throwing cation to the wind the closer to the finish it got.
Ulster had one effort cleared off the line whilst Gareth Doherty went close and was just a toe poke from getting one back. Adrian Delap had another great chance but slipped as he went to pull the trigger.
Ulster are back in action tomorrow against Connacht – who overcame Munster this afternoon 2-0 – with a 3:30pm kick-off.
Ulster: Jason McCallion (Moville College); Ciaran Kelly (St Eunans College, Letterkenny), Jason McGee (PCC Falcarragh), Sam Todd (Carndonagh CS), Luke Nelis (St Eunans College, Letterkenny; Lee McColgan, Falcarragh PCC, half-time); Gareth Doherty (St Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Connor Gormley (Milford Loreto CS), Shane Blaney (St Eunans College, Letterkenny; Eoin Slevin, Abbey VS Donegal Town, 61); BJ Banda (Royal & Prior, Raphoe; Stephen Corrigan, St Macartans College, Monaghan, half-time), Adrian Delap (Milford Loreto CS), Sean McBride (St Columba’s College, Stranlor; Cathal Farren, Carndonagh CS, 51).
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