On the ditch

Connacht, last year’s Grand Slam winners, were looking to extend their unbeaten run as they hosted Ulster at the Sportsground on Saturday. It was the visitors who took the early lead with a penalty from Michael Lawton. But just four minutes later Connacht answered back with a try from scrumhalf Mark Dolan. Throughout the match Connacht continued to keep the opposition under pressure, and Ulster failed to score again while Connacht got a second try (Kevin Russell) and two penalties to seal their appearance in the final.

Scorers:
Connacht:
Tries:Dolan, Russell
Cons:Kennedy (2)
Pens:Kennedy (2)

Ulster:
Pen: Lawton

Connacht: B Carpenter (Westport); K Russell (Corinthians), C Conroy (Galwegians), S O’Meara (Galwegians), F Gormley (Corinthians); A Kennedy (Buccaneers), M Dolan (Buccaneers); D Henshaw (Buccaneers), K Egan (Corinthians), T Thompson (Buccaneers); S Casey (Castlebar), E McKeown (Galwegians); S Connolly (Galwegians), R Kerins (Sligo), J Kenny (Buccaneers).

Replacements: J Robinson (Corinthians) for Henshaw, 50mins; A Spring (Sligo) for McKeown, 58 mins; L Walsh (Buccaneers) for Connolly, 69 mins; M Dempsey (Westport) for Gormley, 69 mins.

Ulster: M Lawton; P Allen, A Malcolm, J Bennett, J O’Toole; D Whitten, N McMullan; J Carscadden, J Weir, R Hill; C Stewart, L Jones; J Donaldson, D Gallagher, J Simpson.

Replacements: S Irvine for Simpson, 36mins; F Lynch for Carscadden, 43 mins; R Irvine for Whitten, 53 mins; R Smyth for Weir, 69 mins.

Referee: K Beggs.

Tags: Connacht, U18, U18 Interpros 2008, Ulster, Youth Interprovinicials