Under 21 Title for Connacht.

Connacht captured the Under 21 Interprovincial title after they defeated Ulster 17-10 at the Sportsground.

Connacht captured the Under 21 Interprovincial title after they defeated Ulster 17-10 at the Sportsground. The final scoreline hardly reflected the relative ease with which Connacht secured the title, the northeners scoring their second try in injury time.

Ulster in fact took the lead with an early try but that score was cancelled out by a try from wing Paddy O’Sullivan. Colm Glynn coverted and added the points to his own try to leave Connacht 14-5 up at the break.

Ulster were unable to break down the well marshalled home defence and their final score came much too late to deny the western province their first Under 21 title.

Connacht Chief Executive was fulsome in his praise of the side and said, “This win reflects greatly the work being done at this level. I’m delighted for all concerned.” Connacht won the Under 20 title in it’s inaugural year, 1980 and Kelly made particular mention of “our superb back row, brothers Ivan and John Muldoon and Ambrose Conboy, who played such a crucial role in today’s victory.”

In the other interprovincial played at Thomond Park, Munster defeated Leinster 20-18. Munster were leading 20-13 as the game drifted into injury time but then James Downey scored in the corner leaving Andrew Tallon with the tochline conversion to level the match. Tallon, who had earlier kicked a conversion and two penaltiies, was wide of the mark. Conrad O’Sullivan kicked four penalties for Munster, Gerry Quaid dropped a goal and Frank Murphy scored a try, Munster led six nil at half time.