THERE was ample vitality in the Leinster under-21 cup final at Grange Road yesterday to suggest that the interprovincial title at this level may well be wrested from Ulster at the end of the month.

Glenanne retained the Derek Price Trophy, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to be on equal terms with UCD by the interval. They dominated the second half which saw youth international Graham Shaw tuck away the winner.

With the impetus of Saturday's 4-1 league win over Trinity behind them, UCD forced three short corners in the opening 10 minutes and David Hanna crashed home two of them. But the nippy Roly O'Donoghue stirred Glenanne into life, creating the opportunity for John Goulding to lay the ball back for Shaw to score. Then, from the holders' first corner, Stephen Butler equalised.

With 10 members of last season's side on duty Glenanne raised the tempo after the break.

The gusto of the skipper Alan Browne and his midfield partners. O'Donoghue and Shaw, was especially evident so much so that the UCD defenders found themselves becoming over robust in attempting to hold their lines.

First, Hanna sent O'Donoghue tumbling and then Simon Brown fouled Mark Lambe without ceremony. Both offenders, though far from uncouth, received temporary exclusion orders and while they were off the field, Shaw had room to find the target following a corner.

Declan Kelly had a chance to increase the margin but his searing strike was saved by Ken Miller. This gave UCD - with Peter Fox showing most enthusiasm - the encouragement to probe for an equaliser in the closing stages. However, the captain, Teddy Lynch, had a shot stabbed away by Paul Bastable, who had also made a vital, if close to a penalty-stroke, intervention before the interval

With Pembroke Wanderers dropping another point, this time on their visit to Kilkenny on Saturday, the Leinster Senior League title now seems well within Avoca's grasp.