Ulster withstood a second half Leinster onslaught to set up a championship decider against Munster with four penalties from the boot of former Irish Schools star Ian Humphreys at Ravenhill on Saturday.
Starting with the benefit of a strong wind the lighter Ulster forwards made good yardage with the ball in hand and Humphreys, in his first game since the Irish schools tour of Australia, was in assured kicking form as he converted three penalties in the opening quarter.
Leinster were in command approaching the break but Ulster produced an excellent defensive display to deny the visitors a try and Ciaran Fitzgerald's side were forced to settle for a Barry Lynn penalty.
Lynn added two more penalties in the third quarter but Leinster's inability to turn further pressure into points was severely punished when Humphreys added a fourth penalty in the 77th minute to steal the match.
ULSTER: S Mallon; A Maxwell, D Cantley, G Mitchell, S Young; I Humphreys, D Spence; B Young, M Harshaw, C Prime, T Barker, M McCullough, D Barbour, D O'Kane, R Wilson. Replacements: M Best for Spence (63 mins), D Witherow for Prime (63), C Atkinson for Cantley (63).
LEINSTER: F Baynes; J Norton, K Lewis, G Brown, A Cahill; B Lynn, B O'Riordan; S Brophy, G Hickie, N Treston, N Breslin, L Bourke, T Carter, D Dillon. Replacements: I Wallace for Brophy (70), E gormley for Breslin (70).
Referee: S Flannery (Munster).
