Although not playing to their total potential, Leinster polished off Ulster, 4-2, at Blaris yesterday to retain the under-21 inter provincial hockey laurels. The reward should be at least nine places in the Ireland squad for the Celtic Cup tournament in Cork next month.

Ulster, though, produced predictably resolute resistance from Clark Kennedy and Colin Clarke, who, along with goalkeeper Neil Slane, took the sting from Leinster's attack.

Furthermore, Gary McKee, too, showed his prowess at this level, requiring Alan Bothwell and his cohorts at the back to be constantly on the alert.

After 11 minutes, McKee pierced the cover to set up an opening from which Kevin Lunn smashed Ulster into the lead. But Leinster were already picking up steam and an equaliser soon materialised. Richard Beere launched Justin Sherriff into a full thrust and although Slane parried his shot, Garry Ringwood drove home the loose ball.

Further pressure yielded a short corner for Stephen Butler to find the target from a low drag flick and it was 3-1 by the interval when another strong surge by Sherriff and Graham Shaw led to a connection by Simon Kershaw hitting a defender's boot on the line. Butler put away the penalty.

Ulster threatened to make it more of a contest early in the second half but a goal by McKee was disallowed as he was adjudged to have fired in his shot from outside the circle. Then Glenn Bailey brought off a fine reflex save from Stephen Reid before Gareth Grundie found a gap to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Leinster, however, regained the initiative with player of the tournament Butler powerfully reasserting himself in midfield. Although Slane twice blocked Kershaw at full momentum, the two-goal margin was restored six minutes from the end as Ringwood breezed free on the right and delivered a centre for Kershaw to dispatch to the net.

Leinster: G Bailey; W Powderly, R Beere, A Bothwell (capt), S Mitchell; G Ringwood, S Butler, C Brady; G Shaw, J Sherriff, G Bailey. Sub: S Kershaw.

Ulster: N Slane; C Clarke; P Fleming, C Kennedy (capt), G Irwin; M Harte, A Lewis, G McKee; S Reid, K Lunn, S Parker. Subs: A Carson, G Grundie, M Simpson. Umpires: R O'Connor, W McCully.