Leinster defeated a Galway-dominated Connacht side in this lacklustre football final played before fewer than 200 spectators in brilliant sunshine at the Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney. For long periods Connacht looked the more likely side to win, with their Galway contingent teaming up well.

They got off to a fine start with points from Derek Savage and Paul Clancy inside the first two minutes.

Leinster, who were recovering from their overtime exertions against Munster the previous night, soon began to find holes in the Connacht defence and Paul Barden opened their account with a fine point.

The second half saw the Leinster defence, particularly Mark Reilly, Cathal Daly and Nigel Nestor, tighten up, and with Rory O'Connell winning good ball at midfield, Leinster began to dominate.

The vital score that decided this contest came as early as the second minute of the half when Evan Kelly found his Meath team-mate Graham Geraghty, who raced through the Connacht full back line to shoot low to the net and give his side a 1-7 to 0-5 lead and they never looked likely to lose after that.

LEINSTER: C O'Sullivan; M O'Reilly, D Mitchell, C Daly; D Healy, N Nestor, K Doyle; R O'Connell, N Garvan; C McManus (0-1), P Barden (0-3), E Kelly (0-2); C Quinn, G Geraghty (1-1), G Heavin (0-3). Subs: J Higgins for K Doyle, J Hegarty for C Quinn, M Stansfield for N Garvan, P Conway for P Barden.

CONNACHT: A Keane; D Gavin, K Fitzgerald, R Fahy; T Joyce, F Grehan (0-1), M Colleran; K Walsh, J Bergin (0-2); C Connelly, E O'Hara, P Clancy (0-2); D Savage (0-3), P Joyce (0-1), F Dolan. Subs: S O'Neill (0-1) for E O'Hara, J Dunning for F Dolan, T Mortimer for C Connelly.