Sunday's winner take all clash with reigning Champions Connacht, who had also come into the final game with a perfect record, went the way of Ian Ryan's charges on a really entertaining 2-1 score-line.
An early goal from Coláiste Phadráig, Lucan CBS grad Kyle Robinson set Leinster well on their way to a fourth success in six years and when Athlone dynamo Adam Lennon doubled their advantage in the opening minutes of the second half, it looked like they would go on to a comfortable win.
However, Rice College stalwart Cillian Heaney replied for Connacht on the hour mark, managing to give the Westerners hope of staging a dramatic come-back and despite a couple of close calls they agonisingly failed to get back on terms.
The Leinster side contained many scholars from the Capital as well as students from Kildare, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow to ensure a well poised outfit that looked slick in their passing and fluid in possession.
The experienced Leinster talent weathered the storm and with some brilliant passing football they regained control and saw out the remainder of the game in fine style.
Head Coach Ryan of St. Mac Dara’s CS had guided his side to comfortable wins in their opening two fixtures on the previous two days.
Munster were their first victims on Friday evening when goals from Kyle Robinson (Colaiste Phadráig, Lucan CBS), Joe Power (Presentation College, Bray) and Adam Lennon (Athlone Community College) saw them get off to the perfect start.
Douglas Community School pupil Destiny Okonkwo equalised 15 minutes after the break, levelling the game at 1-1 but Leinster proved the classier outfit and hit two more to clinch the points.
While in their opener a Ben Molloy (Claregalway College), second half goal gave Connacht a narrow 1-0 win over Ulster despite in a solid display from both sides. Tactically the Connacht side saw off the opposition when they gained the momentum with Molloy’s conversion.
Leinster continued their fine form on Saturday and had little trouble hitting five goals without reply past Ulster in a wind swept Clonshaugh.
Adam Verdon's first half penalty had them in front early on and Precious Omochere doubled the lead by the break with some splendid displays in the offing.
They followed up with three more in the second half from Adam Lennon, Jack Reynolds and Kyle Robinson to seal the stellar win.
In their second outing Connacht’s Charlie Concannon of Yeats College hit a stunning hat-trick as the holders got the better of Munster who had lead 2-1 early in the second half with a brace from Rob Geany O'Brien (Presentation Brothers College, Cork).
The stunning victory set up a final day showdown with Leinster which kept Connacht well on track to regain the title heading into the final series of games. Nevertheless, the Leinster lads had the upper hand in proceedings to draw a tense but engaging conclusion to the 2019 series.
Some consolation for Murphy’s crew is that youth are on their side with many of the players featured eligible for next year’s event.
While Munster and Ulster may be somewhat disappointed with their title endeavours this season, notwithstanding the results, O’Brien & Browne’s select will be hopefully that some of their players will progress through the ranks in the next fortnight.
INTERNATIONAL SELECTION
As well as the Interprovincial title, this tournament is used as the key recruiting process for the underage International squad at schools level. The Schools select compete in the Celtic Cup and Centenary Shield annually. The team have competed since 2003 and the Republic of Ireland have won the competition seven times in 15 years, most recently in 2018.
The International management team of William O’Connor (Balbriggan Community College), John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Conor Foley (Athlone Community College) and Ollie Horgan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Derek O’Brien (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) will have a difficult task to whittle down a provisional squad to attend trials in Abbotstown on Saturday, November 23.
CENTENARY SHIELD
A final squad of eighteen players will then be selected for the Centenary Shield campaign. The Republic of Ireland’s 2019/20 campaign will kick off with an exciting International friendly when Australia visit Dublin on January 20. This will be excellent preparation for William O’Connor’s International select.
Their Centenary Shield campaign will see the squad host Scotland in their opening fixture on March 19 in Dublin. Following this, the scholars will travel to England on April 3. The next outing is away to Wales on April 16 before hosting reigning Champions Northern Ireland on April 23 in their final outing in Maginn Park.
INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS
ULSTER: Patrick McGarvey (Rosses Community School), Dylan Woods, Adrian McLaughlin (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe), Charlie White, Oran Brogan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Eoin McLaughlin, Luke Rudden, Nathan Logue Cunningham (Carndonagh Community School), Stephen Black, Conor Black (Loreto Community School, Milford), Seán McEvoy (Virginia College, Cavan), Carlos O’Reilly (PCC Falcarragh), Shaun McDermott (Moville Community College), Jamie Doherty, Patrick Ferry (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), Anton Murtagh (Deele College, Raphoe).
Management: Paul Browne (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Martin Cavanagh (Carndonagh Community School)
CONNACHT: Patrick Martyn (Presentation College, Athenry), Seán Kerrigan (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), Ben Molloy (Coláiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway), Conal Harkin, Liam Corcoran (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Bryan Lynch (Summerhill College, Sligo), Rossa McAllister, Cillian Heaney (Rice College, Westport), Darragh Forde (Ballinrobe Community School), Caoimhin O’Toole (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh), Charlie Concannon, Jack McCarthy (Yeats College, Galway), Daniel Cox, Conal Gallagher, Liam Melody, James Egan (St. Joseph’s College, Galway)
Management: Alan Murphy (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Kevin Murphy (Coach), Keith McTigue (Coach)
MUNSTER: Darragh Burke (Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh), Jack Anthony, David Bosnjak, Destiny Okonkwo, Gavin Ryan (Douglas Community School), Rob Walsh (Glanmire Community College) Dylan Casey, Seán Daly (Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick on Suir), Tom Doyle (St. Brendan’s College, Killarney), Killian O’Brien (Schull Community College), Evison Rramani (The Green CBS, Tralee), Robert Geaney O’Brien (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Brian Ahern (Hazelwood College), Cian Browne (St. Declan’s Community College), Alan Dunwoody (St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan), Fionn Duggan (Midleton CBS).
Management: Derek O’Brien (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Cathal Lordan (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Billy Woods (Glanmire Community College), Seamus McWalter (Physio)
LEINSTER: Eoghan O’Sullivan (Coláiste Cois Life, Lucan), Thomas Considine (Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham), Jarlath Jones (Dundalk Grammar School), Andrew Quinn (Dunshaughlin Community College), Cian Kelly (Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght), Adam Verdon (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede), Adam Wells (Ashfield College, Templeogue), Gabriel Adebambo (De La Salle College, Dundalk), Kyle Robinson (Coláiste Phadraig, Lucan CBS), Eoin Farrell (Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy), Mark Hanratty (Lusk Community College), Jack Reynolds (Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara), Joe Power (Presentation College, Bray), Adam Lennon (Athlone Community College), Precious Omochere (St. Mark’s Community School, Tallaght), Enda Minogue (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon)
Management: Ian Ryan (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Fintan Sheridan (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin), Davey Cullen (Woodbrook College, Bray), Stephen O’Reilly (GK Coach), Ferdia McKeon (Physio)
UNDER 18 BOYS’ INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT | AUL COMPLEX, CLONSHAUGH
Friday, November 8
Ulster 0-1 Connacht
Leinster 3-1 Munster
Saturday, November 9
Connacht 3-2 Munster
Leinster 5-0 Ulster
Sunday, November 10
Munster 4-2 Ulster
Connacht 1-2 Leinster