Late Ulster drive sinks Leinster

Ulster 2-13 Leinster 0-16 aet

The Railway Cup may have attracted a mere 500 souls to Brewster Park, but among the country's top players the competition continues to inspire pride and passion.

Ulster and Leinster conspired to produce a compelling contest which saw the holders relinquish their inter-provincial crown after extra-time.

That Ulster trailed by just a point at half-time was almost entirely down to the heroics of goalkeeper Michael McVeigh.

Three times Leinster crafted clear goal chances, and on each occasion they were denied by the imposing Down man.

Having saved superbly from Carlow's Simon Rea and later from Ian Fitzgerald, McVeigh produced a stunning stop from Tadgh Fennin's 28th minute penalty. But Luke Dempsey's side had been in impressive form, Fennin converting three frees, and points also coming from Padraig Clancy, Tom Kelly, Dessie Dolan and Ciaran McManus.

Ulster lacked conviction up front, although Liam Doyle and Brendan Coulter did strike excellent points, and Sean Cavanagh succeeded in unlocking a stubborn defence with the through ball which sent Enda Muldoon in for a 23rd minute goal.

Leinster led by 0-8 to 1-4 at the break, and Dolan's accuracy kept their noses in front until Ulster at last began to look menacing.

First Doyle smashed a shot against the base of a post, and in the 42nd minute Cavanagh cut in from the left for a wonderful individual goal which levelled the game.

Substitute Kevin Brady edged them in front for the first time 10 minutes from the end, but Paul Barden's 51st minute score made it 2-7 to 0-13 and sent the tie to extra-time.

Ulster opened up a two points lead (2-10 to 0-14) halfway through added time, and scores from Tom Brewster, Owen Mulligan and Muldoon saw them set up a meeting with Connacht in tomorrow's decider (2.30pm).

Ulster: M McVeigh, E McNulty, M McCusker, N McCready (0-1), C Gormley, B Monaghan, R McMenamin, G McCartan (0-1), P McGrane (0-1), L Doyle (0-1), S Cavanagh (1-0), B Coulter (0-1), S McDonnell (0-2, 1 free), E Muldoon (0-1), O Mulligan (0-2, 1 free).

Subs: T Freeman for Coulter (21 mins), K Brady (0-1) for Freeman (41 mins), T Brewster (0-2, 1 free) for Doyle (44 mins), C Toye for McDonnell (59 mins), A Forde for Gormley (61 mins), P Loughran for McCartan (80 mins).

Leinster: F Byron, C Daly, P Christie, J Higgins, S Ryan, T Kelly (0-1), A Rainbow, C Whelan, P Clancy (0-1), D Dolan (0-6, 2 frees), P Barden (0-2), C McManus (0-1, f), S Rea (0-2), I Fitzgerald, T Fennin (0-3, all frees).

Subs: S Connell for Fitzgerald (h-t), J P Rooney for Clancy (35 mins), K Slattery for Ryan (44 mins), K Fitzpatrick for Whelan (46 mins), P Griffin for Rainbow (50 mins), T Gill for Rooney (80 mins), B O hAnnaidh for Daly (96 mins).

Referee: M Daly (Mayo).