Buncrana pier tragedy hero, Davitt Walsh, was the man of the moment on the pitch today as he scored twice to help the Ulster Senior League team to a 2-0 win over Connacht in the intermediate interprovincial championships in Cork.
This results means the the USL team - managed by Derry man Peter Moran and comprising players entirely from the Donegal based Ulster Senior League - are now in with a great chance of winning the Michael Ward Trophy.
Walsh had been unavailable for the opening game for the USL last night as he was in Dublin, where he was presented with a Gold Medal for Marine Gallantry, honouring his heroism in the Buncrana Pier Tragedy when he saved the life of four-month-old baby Rionaghac-Ann.
The USL selection will face the hosts, the Munster Senior League, in tomorrow morning’s clash at Turner’s Cross and have given themselves a superb chance of adding to their Intermediate Interprovincial successes of 1998, 2013 and 2014.
Moran made seven changes to his starting XI with Walsh one of those included from the start today.
The USL took the lead just after the half-hour mark as Walsh opened the scoring.
After a fine move down the left, Laurence Toland whipped a dangerous cross towards the front post and Walsh expertly turned home.
Midway through the second half, they doubled the lead.
Having surged forward from full-back, Bonagee United’s Gareth Breslin was taken down in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty.
Walsh stepped up and neatly tucked home to the goalkeeper’s right-hand side.
Ulster Senior League: Harry Doherty (Cockhill Celtic), Gareth Breslin (Bonagee United), Conor Tourish (Letterkenny Rovers), Peter Doherty (Cockhill Celtic), Sam Todd (Derry City Reserves), Jack Blake (Derry City Reserves), Laurence Toland (Swilly Rovers), Ryan Varma (Cockhill Celtic), Chris Flanagan (Letterkenny Rovers), Adrian Delap (Derry City Reserves), Davitt Walsh (Fanad United).
Subs used: Stephen Duffy (Derry City Reserves), Derek Doherty (Cockhill Celtic), Mark Moran (Cockhill Celtic).
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| Ulster Senior League | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Munster Senior League | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Leinster Senior League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Connacht | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
Results – FAI Intermediate Interprovincial Tournament
Friday
Ulster Senior League 3 Leinster Senior League 1
Munster Senior League 1 Connacht 0
Saturday
Ulster Senior League 2-0 Connacht
Fixtures
Saturday, October 15
Munster Senior League v Leinster Senior LeagueO’Shea Park, Blarney
Sunday, October 16, 10.45am
Leinster Senior League v Connacht Ringmahon Park
Munster Senior League v Ulster Senior League Turner’s Cross
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