Leinster take the laurels

Having defeated Munster by as wide a margin as 4-1 on Saturday, Leinster were well on the way to regaining the under-21 interprovincial title at Serpentine Avenue yesterday and after 22 minutes a virtuoso goal by UCD's Stephen Tilson virtually ensured that Ulster could not retain the laurels.

Ulster eventually earned a 2-2 draw but, having lost 2-1 to Munster on Friday, they needed to win by three clear goals, so Leinster emerged as handsome champions.

Leinster played wisely at the start in keeping the game tight at the back where Stephen Findlater was particularly astute. As a fine match gained momentum, Brian Grey sent Tilson darting away to seize the lead.

Jonathan Quigley showed his pace to put Ian Hamilton through for an equaliser but a Leinster short corner enabled Ian Allen to snap up a second phase chance to leave it 2-1 at the interval.

Ulster attacked constantly in the second period to force a succession of short corners but Greg Keeley kept out everything that Hamilton fired at him. Although Philip Stirling levelled matters 12 minutes from the end, Leinster now had the trophy within their grasp as Allan Kershaw and Peter McConnell stormed defiantly out of defence.

On Saturday, Munster made an assertive start, forcing Leinster back and taking the lead through David Eakins from a drag flick. Somehow, however, the home side managed to steady themselves and did enough for the industrious David Bane to equalise from a corner. Eakins was unlucky to hit a post, so it remained 1-1 at half-time.

Early in the second half, Tilson broke free on the left wing to deliver a centre from which Allen added a touch to McConnell's probe to make it 2-1. Eakins was then foiled several times by Keeley before the enterprising Kershaw spurred Leinster into an attack from which Allen was quick to put away the subsequent set-piece opportunity.

Dave Hobbs and Karl Burns tried to save Munster's cause but Joe Brennan, notably, ensured that nothing was yielded. Finally Tilson zipped clear to score a solo goal which was to be an invaluable valve in facing Ulster and which he was to embellish brilliantly yesterday.

In beating Avoca 1-0 at Rathdown on Saturday, Pembroke Wanderers maintained their six-point cushion at the top of the Leinster Senior League. An inspired performance, however, by Stephen Kinsella between the Avoca posts made it an anxious afternoon for Pembroke until Ronan Gormley and Gordon Elliott combined to give Justin Sherriff sufficient space to make the decisive thrust midway through the second half.