In a match ruined by the weather, Ulster comprehensively defeated Connacht to win the Railway Cup for a record 25th time. At the presentation, winning captain Henry Downey expressed the hope that the GAA authorities would fully support the Railway Cup in the future but yesterday it was higher powers which proved unco-operative. A howling gale was accompanied by intermittent rain to eliminate any chance of a decent match.

A number of players were injured in a protracted first half and in a final twist, the wind switched after the interval to rob Connacht of the anticipated momentum which had put a three-point margin well within their sights. To add to their woes, goalkeeper Peter Burke was sent off for a second yellow card halfway through the second half.

"The curse of Cromwell is upon us," was the verdict of Fr Liam Devine, Sligo PRO and yesterday's master of ceremonies at Markievicz Park. In fairness to Ulster, their victory was probably attributable to more tangible considerations such as the quality of their players and teamwork.

"It swirled a wee bit better for us in the second half," was victorious manager Brian McEniff's straight-faced response to the wind assistance. "I thought we played very well, particularly as we were missing most of the Armagh lads and with the injuries. We were under pressure after missing a good few chances in the first half."

This was an accurate summary of Ulster's difficulties. Jimmy McGuinness, goalkeeper Finbar McConnell and Oisin McConville had to be replaced after sustaining injuries. McGuinness suffered a gashed shin and McConville a shoulder injury.

McConnell aggravated a leg strain which had tempered his team's first-half wind advantage. His normally booming kick-outs were curtailed and failed to capitalise on the gale at his back.

If Connacht's ill-luck in the second half sealed their fate, they had been fortunate in the first period. Ulster's forwards were in lively form with Eoin Gormley at full forward prominent but it was his county colleague Peter Canavan who really caught the eye.

His confrontation with Kenneth Mortimer disappointed anyone expecting an absorbing tussle and the Mayo man was replaced by fellow county man Aidan Higgins in the second half.

Ulster could have had a stack of goals by half-time. Canavan kicked a fine, long-distance point in the 11th minute but ignored McGuinness alone on the inside. Two minutes later, Brendan Devenney cut in along the endline but his fisted effort at a point fell short into the net - which cannot be given as a goal. Gregory McCartan was unable to add a legitimising touch.

In the 16th minute Gormley was straight in on goal only to be hauled down by Burke. McConville's penalty crashed off the bar and went over for a point. Canavan was sent through by Devenney and drew a good save from Burke at the end of the half.

Connacht looked well placed to challenge after half-time, trailing 0-2 to 0-5, but Ulster stepped up a gear and with the wind changing, the match was rapidly heading beyond the home team's grasp. In the opening minutes, Mulholland and Gormley pointed and the trend was set.

It was in the 50th minute that the final became a formality. Devenney slipped through and was rounding Burke when the goalkeeper executed a rugby tackle. Instant dismissal resulted and Gregory McCartan's finish was less forgiving than McConville's in the first half.

Connacht had immediately brought on Roscommon goalkeeper Derek Thompson in place of Niall Finnegan. The twin impact of the goal and the loss of a forward closed the book on the contest. Padraig Joyce added a free to his team's two first-half points but it was Connacht's last score.

In the final quarter the match was played at a funereal pace with Ulster leaving nothing to chance and hand-passing their way through the swirling wind. There were some excellent performances in defence where the alert Gary Coleman was particularly impressive. His colleagues were never less than efficient and Connacht's attack never got a look in.

Galway centre back John Divilly was Connacht's best player but even his robust promptings couldn't draw much of a response from his outplayed teammates.