Madigan seizes opportunity

Leinster 24 Ulster 11

Leinster righted a number of the wrongs from their St Stephen’s Day disaster in Thomond Park two evenings ago and, in terms of individual redemptive tales, there were few more obvious candidates than Ian Madigan.

Pegged as Ireland’s likely starter at 10 for the Six Nations opener against Italy when news of Jonathan Sexton’s concussion issues emerged, Madigan was only parachuted back into the out-half slot in time for that Munster match. It was just his second start of the campaign in the pivotal position held mostly by Jimmy Gopperth and he was ultimately outshone by Ian Keatley on a night when the visiting pack was bullied by their opponents on the way to a comfortable home victory.