Ulster seal four-point win over Munster

Ulster 1-12 Munster 1-8, Croke Park

Ulster joined Leinster at the top of the roll of honour with a committed display of football seeing them to a 1-12 to 1-8 win over Munster in tonight's M Donnelly Interprovincial football decider.

Although Munster hit their opponents for 1-3 during a three-minute spell in the second quarter, and also held the interval lead, a brilliant second-half performance ensured that Ulster, jointly managed by Brian McEniff and Art McRory, emerged as winners under the Croke Park floodlights.

There were scarcely 1,000 people present for the start of the final but this did not stop Ulster from making a positive start; they held a 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, thanks to good scores from Monaghan trio Thomas Freeman, Paul Finlay and Eoin Lennon, with Kerry's Mike Frank Russell chipping in for the lone score for Munster at that stage.

Munster were unlucky not to be level with the northerners as they created the first goal chance of the contest in the 11th minute.

A long ball in to full-forward Kieran Donaghy saw the Kerryman despatch an excellent fisted pass to John Miskella but the efforts of Derry defender Ciaran McKeever ensured that Miskella was kept at bay.

The Sean Geaney-managed Munster team came back strongly and scored 1-3 in a three-minute spell as they burst into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead, 23 minutes into the tie.

Points from Russell and Tomas O'Se kickstarted the Munster comeback, which really got going with an impressive 22nd-minute goal from Donaghy.

Like Munster's earlier goal miss, their major came from a well-worked movement which began with a long ball in from Seamus Scanlon. The delivery was cleanly caught by Donaghy who sent a blistering shot to the back of the net.

Munster had a chance for a second goal from the resulting kick-out with Donaghy making another clean catch before dispatching the ball to the onrushing Russell, however the Kerry star's kick was well saved by Ulster goalkeeper James Reilly. The ball went out for a '45' which Cork's Donnacha O'Connor subsequently converted.

This ended the Munster onslaught as Ulster responded well and cut the gap to a point at the interval thanks to some industrious play. A fisted pass from Paul Finlay to fellow Monaghan man Thomas Freeman, who gathered pace as he headed towards the goals, resulted in an Ulster goal as Freeman rocketed his shot to the roof of the net, leaving just a point between the sides.

Munster's 1-5 to 1-4 interval advantage was a far from secure one and Ulster quickly regained the lead on the resumption.

Armagh's Steven McDonnell was one of Ulster's heroes during the second half as the 39th-minute substitute scored two points with his first two touches to hand Ulster held a two-point lead nine minutes after the restart, with Monaghan's Dick Clerkin also adding a point to the Ulster tally.

While Ulster remained a composed outfit throughout the second half, Munster were in panic mode and although half-time substitute Fintan Goold cut the gap to a point, the inaccuracy of his fellow forwards, who chalked up five wides during the second half, left Munster trailing.

Not even Donaghy could find a much-needed goal for the eventual losers, as his 57th-minute effort crept wide of the target.

Ulster were more clinical in their use of possession and it was this, along with some excellent displays in both defence and attack, which ensured they pulled away and captured a 28th Interprovincial title.

Scorers -

Ulster: T Freeman 1-1, P Finlay, S McDonnell 0-3 each, S Cavanagh 0-2, D Clerkin, E Lennon, B Coulter 0-1 each

Munster: D O'Connor 0-3 (0-2f, 1 '45'), K Donaghy 1-0, MF Russell 0-2 (0-1f), P O'Neill, T O'Se, F Goold 0-1 each

ULSTER: J Reilly; B Owens, K McCloy, K Lacey; C McKeever, C Gormley, K Cassidy; E Lennon, D Gordon; D Clerkin, S Cavanagh, P Finlay; T Freeman, Paddy Bradley, E Muldoon.

Subs used: B Monaghan for McCloy (half-time), S McDonnell for Bradley (39 mins), D Mone for Lacey (48), B Coulter for Gordon (51), S Goan for McKeever (64).

MUNSTER: A Quirke; T O'Gorman, T O'Sullivan, K O'Connor; T O'Se, M Shields, G Spillane; D O'Se, S Scanlon; E Brosnan, P O'Neill, J Miskella; MF Russell, K Donaghy, D O'Connor.

Subs used: G Canty for O'Gorman (31 mins), F Goold for D O'Se (half-time), D O'Sullivan for Miskella (53).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)