PROVINCIAL PRIDE

With the interprovincial football series making a return at the weekend, Niall McCoy has a look at the recent roll of honour with one province enjoying plenty of success

2024 – Ulster

AFTER an eight-year hiatus, the competition returned to test the new FRC rules and produced a good weekend’s entertainment, especially the final between Ulster and Connacht at Croke Park.

The latter had eased past Leinster in the semi-final, Aidan O’Shea kicking some wonder scores, while Ulster had a fine Niall Morgan performance to thank for getting the better of Munster in their semi-final.

That set up an Ulster-Connacht final 24 hours later and although Odhrán Murdock looked to have won it for the northern province with a late flicked goal, a two-pointer from Johnny Heaney sent the game to penalties as the game finished Connacht 4-15 (31) Ulster 2-23 (31).

There both sides did their best to miss as many penalties as possible – some saved, some hitting the post, Aidan Forker’s effort kissing both posts, but in the end it was penalty specialist Murdock who had the final say.

2016 – Ulster

THE cold December air greeted this inter-pro final at as Ulster defeated holders Connacht on a 2-16 to 3-10 scoreline.

It was Connacht who made the brighter start as a pair of goals from Roscommon’s Diarmuid Murtagh pushed them into a 2-3 to 0-3 lead inside 10 minutes.

Pete McGrath’s side responded well though with Fermanagh’s Aidan Breen, who also goaled in the semi-final win over Connacht, hitting another major.

Ulster got the deficit back to a point as the break approached, but Damien Comer netted their third goal as they led 3-6 to 1-10 at the break.

Ulster secured the title in the second half with a 1-4 scoring burst proving decisive, Armagh powerhouse Charlie Vernon cutting through for their second goal.

After the game Ulster captain and Fermanagh’s Eoin Donnelly accepted the cup from then GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail but once again, low crowds were a real talking point.

2014 – Connacht

CONNACHT secured their first inter-pro football title since 1969 and they did it in some style too as they hammered Ulster 2-19 to 1-7 in Tuam.

Cathal Cregg’s 1-7 tally had pushed them past Munster at the same venue in the semi-final while Ulster won a high-scoring semi-final with Leinster, 2-26 to 3-21 with Conor McManus, whose late point forced extra-time, and Peter Harte scoring their goals.

Joe Kernan’s side were second best in the decider though, well in the second half anyway,

The visitors had actually led at the break with Sean Cavanagh’s goal putting them 1-5 to 0-6 ahead, but that was a good as it got.

Michael Conroy and David Kelly responded with Connacht goals in the second half as 11 players got on the scoresheet for the hosts in front of a crowd of about 500 people.

Ulster only scored twice after the break with goalkeeper Niall Morgan landing a free and McManus kicking a point in the final quarter.

2013 – Ulster

ULSTER made it three interprovincial titles in a row, albeit with a few gaps in between, as they hit an impressive 3-12 in the four-point win over Leinster in front of a few thousand spectators at Croke Park.

It was Leinster who raced into the lead, Dublin’s Bernard Brogan and Meath’s Joe Sheridan causing havoc as they had six points on the board early doors.

Brogan had two super chances of goals two, but was twice denied by Tyrone shot-stopper Pascal McConnell.

Ulster were gasping for air but the lifebelt came in the form of a converted Jamie Clarke penalty after Antrim’s Kevin Niblock had been fouled.

That seemed to settle them and they trailed by two at the break as Leinster led 0-9 to 1-4.

A brilliant Conor McManus goal moved them ahead early on the restart before Clarke’s second put them five clear.

Leinster wouldn’t go away though with Brogan adding a series of frees, but they couldn’t reel in an Ulster side that lost Chrissy McKaigue to a red card late on.

2012 – Ulster

INTERPROVINCIAL number 30 for Ulster came courtesy of a 3-11 to 1-15 win in front of a healthy 3,000 crowd at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Clare’s David Turbidy, supported by Cork’s Paul Kerrigan, were enjoying the standoffish nature of the game and it took a Mark Poland strike for Ulster to lead by the minimum at the turnaround.

Up at the other end, Tyrone star Owen Mulligan was also impressing the crowd with a series of fine scores.

In the second half, Ulster scored a second goal through Peter Harte – Benny Coulter with his second assist having also set up Poland – but Munster moved ahead again through Rory Donnelly with his effort on goal taking a deflection off Karl Lacey.

The Donegal man had a county teammate to thank for getting his side out of trouble though with Neil McGee grabbing the match-winning goal four minutes from time after captain Darren Hughes had landed two scores to keep them in touch.

2009 – Ulster

THE last – to date anyway – in a series of finals played abroad in order to crack the Railway Cup code.

London was the host city this time as Ulster defeated Munster 0-15 to 1-8 under the management of Joe Kernan.

Ulster were excellent in the first half with their inside line of Michael Murphy, Paddy Bradley and Stephen O’Neill sizzling – but it was Kevin Hughes, who loved the interprovincial arena – who kicked two late scores to give them a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at half time.

Waterford’s Gary Hurney drilled home a goal to reignite the contest and they led heading into the final quarter.

Ulster stood up from there though with Down pair Danny Hughes and Dan Gordon making vital scoring impressions from the bench.

2008 – Munster

MUNSTER’S last win came some 16 years ago with a low-scoring 1-9 to 0-7 win over Connacht. Indeed, combined with their semi-final win over Ulster, they only managed 2-14 across the two fixtures – but it’s all about the end result.

Just a few hundred hardy souls turned up for the final in Portlaoise, and Munster essentially sealed the deal early on as they hit 1-4 without reply with Waterford defender Tomas O’Gorman raising a green flag.

Munster led 1-6 to 0-2 at the break and although they only managed three second-half scores, it was more than enough against a Connacht side that only scored three points from play across the entire game, Mayo pair Alan Dillon (0-2) and Andy Moran (0-1) on target.