Anthony Cunningham was left feeling distinctly “black and amber” after a weekend to forget was completed by a trouncing in Nowlan Park yesterday.

As the all-Galway Connacht team took the field in sunny Nowlan Park for this M Donnelly Interprovincial Championship hurling final yesterday, they passed under a sign in their dressing-room which stated, in bold red lettering, win, win, win.

The first-half sending-off of Ulster midfielder Neil McManus for two yellow cards spoiled this encounter, but Connacht still struggled to impose themselves in Ballinasloe and it wasn’t until Eanna Ryan’s goal six minutes from time that Anthony Cunningham’s men could breathe easily.