All three games in the under-21 interprovincial hockey championship ended in draws at Garryduff over the weekend; but as Munster and Ulster had shared eight goals on Friday night, it was these two sides who found themselves engaged in a shoot-out for the title yesterday - and Ulster won it 5-4.

Earlier, Ulster had played out a 1-1 draw with the holders, Leinster, who also could register no more than a goal against Munster on Saturday.

The home team's hopes had remained alive when Dave Lombard scored a deserved, but controversial, equaliser from a short corner after the final hooter cancelling out a first half set piece goal for Leinster by Stephen Butler.

Charlie Henderson and his back four stood their ground against a Munster side in which Mark Black and Karl Burns in midfield and Dave Eakins and Lombard in attack threatened to gain the upper hand.

Yesterday, Leinster played more positively in a bid to retain the laurels; but Michael Harte was particularly defiant in midfield for Ulster, who went ahead early in the second half through a penalty stroke converted by Jonathan Bloomfield.

Pressure from Colm Brady, notably, was rewarded when Butler equalised from a short corner; but there was to be no further breakthrough against a defence in which Ian Huchinson tackled especially resolutely and Neil Slane excelled in goal.

Slane also played a vital role in the shoot-out in saving two of the Munster strokes.

Ulster also came out on top in the tournament involving the Universities, whom they beat 6-0 on Saturday. But yesterday the students, who defeated Leinster 2-1 on Friday, lost only by two goals to Munster, for whom Andrew Whittaker needed to be especially vigilant in foiling Andy Barbour of a consolation score. In Dublin on Saturday, a brace of goals by Gordon Elliott against his old club earned Pembroke Wanderers a 2-1 Leinster senior league win over Three Rock Rovers at Grange Road; while YMCA fought back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Railway Union 3-2 at Ballinteer.

YMCA, who now move into the top half of the table, have appealed against their expulsion from the Mills Cup for fielding an ineligible player. The appeal will be considered by the Leinster Branch Management Committee tonight.

YMCA feel that the awarding by the fixtures committee of the second round tie to UCD (which YM won 5-1) was too severe and that the match should be replayed.

YM site recent similar situations - if in broader fields - involving Stade Francais in rugby and West Ham in soccer.