Ulster...1-12
Munster.1-8

The victory saw Ulster join Leinster at the top of the roll of honour and was a fitting end to McEniff’s long involvement with the men in gold and black. Having trailed at the interval, Ulster produced a strong second half display to take the M Donnelly trophy back to the north once again.

There were scarcely 1,000 people present at the throw-in, but this did not stop Ulster from making a positive start and they led by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter thanks to points from the Monaghan trio Thomas Freeman, Paul Finlay and Eoin Lennon, with Kerry’s Mike Frank Russell registering Munster’s solitary reply.

Munster, who were unlucky to be denied a goal in the 11th minute when Ulster’s Ciaran McKeever made a vital interception to deny John Miskella, came to life in a three-minute spell in the second quarter when they hit their opponents for 1-3 to move into a 1-4 to 0-3 lead after 23 minutes.

Points from Russell and Tomas O Se brought them level before Kieran Donaghy fielded a high delivery from Seamus Scanlon and blasted home a trademark goal which gave Cavan’s James Reilly no chance in the Ulster goal. Moments later, Donaghy set up Russell for another goal chance, but this time Reilly made a brilliant save to deny Sean Geaney’s side. The ball went out for a ’45’ which Cork’s Donnacha O’Connor expertly converted.

Ulster gradually got their composure back and they were right back in when Thomas Freeman blasted in off the underside of the crossbar to cut the deficit to the minimum.

Munster led by 1-5 to 1-4 at half-time, but their advantage was wiped out within four minutes of the restart thanks to two points from impressive substitute Steven McDonnell and another from Dick Clerkin.

Although half-time substitute Fintan Goold reduced the gap to a point, Munster lacked composure and five second half wides greatly unsettled them. Their best chance of a goal fell to Donaghy in the 57th minute, but his shot crept inches wide of the target.

Ulster, by contrast, were very economical in their use of possession and this, along with some excellent displays in defence, saw them pull away from a four-point victory.

Scorers: Ulster: T Freeman 1-01, P Finlay, S McDonnell 0-03 each, S Cavanagh 0-02, D Clerkin, E Lennon, B Coulter 0-01 each. Munster: D O’Connor 0-03 (0-02f, 1 ’45’), K Donaghy 1-00, MF Russell 0-02 (0-01f), P O’Neill, T O’Se, F Goold 0-01 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).

Ref: M Deegan (Laois).
Ulster edge past Connacht
Sunday, October 21
At least two fireworks were let off in Ballybofey but this was a far from explosive game as Ulster emerged three points winners under the floodlights, to meet Munster in next Saturday’s Interprovincial Football Championship Final at Croke Park.
Two goals in the space of a minute and a half for Connacht really set the visitors up nicely for this contest with the Westerners holding a 2-2 to 0-2 lead after seven minutes.
Ulster 1-15
Connacht 2-9
Half-forward Andy Moran and full-forward Declan Maxwell were the goal getters with Mayo’s Moran slotting to the net following a well placed pass from Sean Armstrong – who was a late introduction for the absent Michael Meehan.
Maxwell continued Moran’s good early work with Ulster keeping in touch with points from Paul Finlay and Ger Pierson.
With six points separating the sides, Connacht held a deserving lead but Ulster were quick to cut the gap thanks to fine individual scores from Monaghan duo Thomas Freeman and Paul Finlay. Indeed Ulster could have cut the deficit further but for some inaccuracy in front of the posts.
Points from Sean Armstrong and Roscommon’s Karol Mannion restored Connacht’s two goal advantage but Ulster were pressing hard and scores from Dan Gordon and Enda Muldoon cut the gap to four points, 12 minutes before the interval.
As this game ebbed and flowed it was Connacht’s turn to exert the pressure and Sean Armstrong had an excellent goal chance in the 27th minute but for a superb save from Ulster and Cavan goalkeeper James Reilly.
Both teams subsequently traded points before the interval but at half-time it was still John O’Mahony’s Connacht who were in the ascension with a 2-5 to 0-8 advantage.
While the opening half of this game lacked in intensity, the second half promised much with Ulster firing on all cylinders in the third quarter.
The home side stole the lead six and a half minutes into the half with firstly a Paul Finlay point and then a goal from the Monaghan half-forward after great assistance from All-Star Thomas Freeman who sent in a long ball.
Although substitute Ger Heneghan took the next Connacht score, this was a mere blip in a dominant Ulster patch which saw fine scores from Dan Gordon, a fisted Kevin Cassidy effort; Aaron Kernan and Freeman and Ulster held a 1-13 to 2-7 lead as the game entered the final quarter.
Connacht continued to remain resilient but it was Ulster who always kept sight of a three points cushion, despite the visitors breaking through for a goal chance with six minutes remaining following good work by Keith Higgins and Ger Heneghan but the Roscommon man could only watch on as Derry full-back and All-Star Kevin McCloy made a superb block.
At the opposite end Ulster continued to tag on points to firmly seal a spot in next Saturday’s final.
Scorers:
ULSTER: P Finlay 1-4 (3f); T Freeman 0-4 (1f); D Gordon 0-3; A Kernan, K Cassidy, G Pierson, E Muldoon 0-1 each.
CONNACHT: – A Moran 1-1; D Maxwell 1-0; S Armstrong 0-3 (2f); M Breheny 0-2 (1f); K Higgins, K Mannion, G Heneghan 0-1 each.
CONNACHT: P Greene; C Harrison, F Hanley, J McKeon; D Meehan, D Blake, K Higgins; R McGarrity, B Cullinane; M Breheny, S Armstrong, A Moran; C Cregg, D Maxwell, K Mannion. Subs: G Heneghan for Cregg (33); F Dolan for Maxwell (45); M Finneran for Cullinane (54)
ULSTER: J Reilly; B Owens, K McCloy, K Lacey; A Kernan, C Gormley, K Cassidy; E Lennon, D Gordon; D Clerkin, S Cavanagh, P Finlay; T Freeman, G Pierson, E Muldoon. Subs: C McFadden for Pierson (49); C Toye for Clerkin (64)