LEINSTER 8-18 ULSTER 1-21
There was little semblance of a contest at Trim yesterday when Leinster, as expected, outscored Ulster. Once again goals proved decisive, with six players contributing to Leinster's tally of green flags. Kilkenny's Colin Fennelly and Offaly's Joe Bergin hit two each.
With wind advantage in the opening half Leinster flatlined the contest in the first 35 minutes. By the mid-point of the second-half the team in green were 25 points clear.
With no hope of erasing the deficit Ulster outscored Leinster by 1-10 to 1-4 in the final quarter. Top scorer Paul Shiels netted for the losing side near the end from a long range free that caught the home defence off guard. Ryan O'Dwyer, Paul Ryan and substitute Jack Guiney were the other Leinster goalscorers.
LEINSTER: G Maguire; P Murphy (0-2), P Kelly, C Kenny; T Walsh, L Chin, R Kehoe; J Boland, J McCaffrey (0-1); C Keaney (0-2), R O'Dwyer (1-1),D Sutcliffe (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 65); C Fennelly (2-2), J Bergin (2-0), P Ryan (1-2). Subs: D Currams (0-3) for Ryan, J Guiney (1-2) for Fennelly (both 45 ), D English for Walsh, N O'Brien for O'Dwyer (both 52), G Sinnott for Carton (59).
ULSTER: S Keith; B McFall, C McKinley, S Ennis; C Woods (0-1), N McAuley, S McCrory; J McGreevey, K Hinphey; N McKenna (0-4), C Carson, P Shiels (1-5, 1-4 frees); C Clarke (0-4), N McManus (0-5, 0-1 pen), R Gaffney. Subs: M Bradley for Hinphey (24 mins), D McKernan (0-1) for McFall, P Sheehan for McCrory (both half-time), R Convery for Gaffney (48), A Grant (0-1) for McKenna (52).
Referee: J Keane (Galway).
