Ulster turned in a spirited performance at Casement Park yesterday but still lost by six points to favourites Munster in the Railway Cup Hurling semi-final.
There was never a doubt that a shock result was on the cards as Munster concentrated on scoring points. Seanie McGrath and Joe Deane in the corners of the attack were in sparkling first half form as the points from the winners flowed freely. McGrath started the scoring spree in the third minute and centre-back Ollie Moran sent over a fantastic score from an 80-metres free puck. Entering the second quarter Munster had shot into a 010 to 0-4 lead when Ulster hit their first goal.
Geoffrey McGonagle was the scorer as he rattled the ball home after a cross from Conor McCambridge. Hope for Ulster but Munster pressed the pedal again and hit six unanswered points before Greg O'Kane got two for the home side to leave Ulster trailing by 1-6 to 0-16 at the break.
The second half proved to be an exciting battle even if the hurling wasn't out of the top drawer. Both sides hit six points each in 10 minutes before Ulster's second goal arrived in the 45th minute. Barry Coulter was the scorer from close range after John Carson had batted down a Gary O'Kane lob.
Oliver Collins, now operating on the 40, rifled over a point and the gap was closed to three (2-13 to 022) again. The big difference in the teams was the in the art of scoring as Munster were adept at hitting the range from far out. With a danger that Ulster might get on terms, Munster upped their game again and sent over four points in three minutes to make certain of their place in the final against Connacht. Barry Coulter did grab another Ulster goal, after a tremendous run by substitute Jim Close, on the hour but it wasn't enough for a surprise result.
ULSTER: G Clarke (Down); S Mullan (Antrim) 0-1, E McCloskey (Antrim), N Mullan (Derry); M Coulter (Down), Gary O'Kane (Antrim) 0-2, M Molloy (Antrim); C McGuickan (Antrim) 0-1, G Savage (Down); O Collins (Derry) 0-3, Greg O'Kane (Antrim) 0-3, J Carson (Antrim) 0-3; Conor McCambridge (Antrim), G McGonagle (Derry) 1-0, B Coulter (Down) 2-0. Subs: J Close (Antrim) 0-1 for Savage (37 mins); L Richmond (Antrim) for McGonagle (55 mins).
MUNSTER: B Cummins (Tipperary); T Feeney (Waterford), D O'Sullivan (Cork), E Corcoran (Tipperary); B Quinn (Clare), O Moran (Limerick) 0-1, S Og O hAlpin (Cork); M O'Connell (Cork), T Dunne (Tipperary) 0-5; A Markham (Clare), F McCormack (Cork) 0-3, K McGrath (Waterford) 0-1; S McGrath (Cork) 0-3, N Gilligan (Clare) 0-4, J Deane (Cork) 0-8. Subs: D Shanahan (Waterford) 0-1 for K McGrath (37 mins); J Moran (Limerick) 0- 2 for Markham (50 mins).
Referee: E Morris (Dublin).
