Elwood left frustrated after derby stalemate

IN a derby fixture in which no side forged ahead by more than three points, a 15-15 draw appeared a satisfactory result.

Despite the perfect conditions and a crowd of nearly 4,000 at the Galway Sportsground on a Saturday night, this was no open-running spectacle.

Level 6-6 at half time, it was left to the kickers to decide this battle. Connacht’s Ian Keatley struck five from six; Ulster’s Paddy Wallace kicked four from five; and Ulster’s replacement kicker Niall O’Connor added one from two efforts. And with visitors attacking two minutes from full time, O’Connor also had the opportunity to sneak the win, but his drop goal effort was well wide.