Shefflin breaks the deadlock

Leinster ... 4-15 Munster ... 3-17 A point from a free from Henry Shefflin three minutes into injury time earned Leinster their first victory since 1998 in the Railway Cup at Nowlan Park yesterday.

Two minutes from the end Munster found themselves four points behind. A point from Eoin Kelly was followed by a goal from Pat O'Connell to level the scores at the end of normal time.

Within the 73rd minute a foul on Jimmy Coogan on the 55 yard line was converted by Shefflin to end Munster's dominance.

There was little or nothing between the teams throughout most of the opening half. Tipperary's Tommy Dunne was an inspiration to his side as they faced the breeze. In the 27th minute, Munster got a goal from Eoin McGrath to jump 1-5 to 0-7 ahead.

Leinster hung on grimly and a late goal from Eddie Brennan earned them parity at 1-9 each. An injury-time point from a free by Henry Shefflin left them the minimum in front at the break.

The second half was less than 90 seconds old when Dunne shot an equaliser. When Ken McGrath put them in front they looked poised to take over.

However, Leinster bounced back and goals from John Hoyne and Brennan in a six-minute spell turned the match right around, 3-10 to 1-11.

Munster twice got within one point of their opponents, but Leinster edged four points clear again with a late point from Kelly, followed by O'Connell's goal which looked like pushing the match into extra time.

Not so. Henry Shefflin had the final decisive say.

LEINSTER: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, D O'Connor; R Mullally, JJ Delaney, L Ryan; D Lyng (0-1), A Comerford; J Hoyne (1-0), H Shefflin (0-7), C Keaney (1-1); J Coogan (0-2), E Brennan (1-3), B Murphy (1-1). Subs: S Byrne for McGarry, C Kehoe for O'Connor.

MUNSTER: B Cummins; B Breene, D O'Sullivan, P Maher; D Hoey, E Corcoran, S Og hAilpin; P Queally, T Dunne (0-7); T Griffin (0-1), K McGrath (0-3), B O'Connor (0-1); E McGrath (2-1), B Begley, J Deane (0-2). Subs: D Reale for Greene, A O'Shaugnessy (0-1) for Deane, O Moran for O'Sullivan, E Kelly (0-1) for Begley, P O'Connell (1-0) for Hoey.

Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).