INTERPROVINCIAL SEMI-FINALS/ULSTER 1-14 Leinster 1-10:ULSTER TURNED in a storming second-half performance at Crossmaglen on Saturday and afterwards manager Joe Kernan expressed optimism that his side can lift the M Donnelly interprovincial title.

“These players have been showing a huge commitment and . . . I was very pleased with our second-half effort and now hopefully we can finish the job against Munster.”

Leinster, with Dermot Earley and John O’Loughlin forceful at midfield, Dean Rock accurate from frees and Dennis Glennon lively up front, maximised the howling wind in their favour to lead 1-9 to 1-2 at the break.

Joe McMahon potted Ulster’s goal in the fourth minute in a counter-thrust, but Joe Sheridan’s strike in the 30th minute underscored Leinster’s territorial advantage.

The home side slipped into the driving seat after the break. Conor Gormley provided the defensive stability, Kevin Hughes the midfield momentum and Paddy Bradley the cultured finishing that helped them to outscore their opponents by 0-12 to 0-1.

Ulster levelled matters in the 46th minute (1-10 each) prior to dominating the final quarter. Bradley landed six points from frees overall while the tireless Benny Coulter remained a hot handful.

ULSTER: J Devine (Tyrone); B Donaghy (Armagh), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), G O’Kane (Derry); A Kernan (0-1), C McKeever (both Armagh), D Harte (Tyrone); D Gordon (Down), K Hughes (Tyrone 0-2); P Finlay (Monaghan 0-1), B Coulter (Down 0-1), Joe McMahon (Tyrone 1-0); P Bradley (Derry 0-6, all frees), S O’Neill (Tyrone capt), M Murphy (Donegal 0-1 free). Subs: R McCluskey (Fermanagh) for Donaghy, E McGinley (Tyrone) for Gordon (both half-time), C Gormley (Tyrone 0-1) for Harte (39 mins), D Hughes (Down, 0-1) for Joe McMahon (48 mins), T Freeman (Monaghan) for Murphy (56 mins). Yellow cards: McKeever (37 mins), K Hughes (40 mins), Coulter (42 mins).

LEINSTER: G Connaughton (Westmeath): C Hyland (Wicklow), P McMahon (Dublin), E Bolton (Kildare); G Brennan (Dublin), B Flanagan (Kildare), S Kenny (Meath); D Earley (Kildare, capt), J O’Loughlin (Laois 0-1); P Flynn (Dublin, 0-1), J Sheridan (Meath, 1-2, 0-1 free), B Sheehan (Laois); D Glennon (Westmeath 0-1), D Rock (Dublin 0-4, frees), B Brogan (Dublin, 0-1, free). Subs: R McConnell (Dublin) for Sheehan (47 mins), J Sherlock (Dublin) for O’Loughlin (53 mins), A Hubbard (Dublin) for Glennon (56 mins), P Byrne (Meath) for Brogan (58 mins). Yellow cards: Sheehan (2 mins), O’Loughlin (15 mins), Hyland (40 mins).

Referee: Vincent Neary (Mayo).

Munster 1-13 Connacht 1-10:FOUR POINTS in a row by Connacht inside the last 10 minutes, in Limerick on Saturday, were not enough to deny Munster their place in the interprovincial final. The turning point for Munster came just before half-time when Pa Ranahan struck a superb goal.

Munster almost paid the price for conceding too many frees in the second half and substitute Matthew Clancy put over three points, two from frees. Munster had three points from Paddy Kelly, Donnacha O’Connor and Colm O’Neill inside five minutes and Paul Kerrigan was inches wide with a goal attempt.

Mark Brehony hit Connacht’s opening point after six minutes before Paul Conroy struck a shot which beat Paul Fitzgerald but came back off the post. A minute later Joe Bergin was fouled as he bore down on goal and referee Cormac Reilly awarded a penalty from which David Kelly scored when following up after Fitzgerald had saved his initial effort. Kelly tacked on a point as O’Connor had two Munster points followed by another brace from Garry Hurney.

David Kelly pulled a point back for Connacht but two more by O’Connor had Munster three in front and Ranahan’s goal put Munster 1-9 to 1-3 in front at the break.

Peadar Gardiner had the first point for Connacht on the resumption but Colm O’Neill (free) and Liam O’Lionnain edged Munster seven points clear.

Four points in a row by Connacht left only a goal between them but Munster ran down the clock effectively.

MUNSTER: P Fitzgerald (Tipperary); T O’Gorman (Waterford), J McCarthy (Limerick), P Reidy (Kerry); M O’Gorman (Waterford), M Shields (Cork), P Ranahan (Limerick, 1-0); A O’Connor (Cork), R Costigan (Tipperary); P Kelly (Cork, 0-1 ), D O’Connor (Cork, 0-6, one free, 1 sideline), P Kerrigan (Cork); G Hurney (Waterford, 0-2), C O’Neill (Cork, 0-3, one free), L O’Lionnain (Waterford, 0-1). Subs: S Walsh (Waterford) for Kerrigan (52 mins), G Quinlan (Clare) for Hurney (54 mins), J Ryan (Limerick) for Kelly (58 mins).

CONNACHT: D Clarke (Mayo); C Harrisson (Sligo), N Maguire (Sligo), J McKeon (Leitrim); P Gardiner (Mayo), D Blake (Galway), G Bradshaw (Galway); J Bergin (Galway), N Coleman (Galway); M Brehony (Sligo, 0-1), B Moran (Mayo), P Conroy (Galway); S Kilbride (Roscommon), A O’Shea (Mayo), D Kelly (Sligo, 1-4, three frees). Subs: J Glancy (Leitrim, 0-1) for Kilbride (35 mins), M Clancy (Leitrim, 0-3, two frees) for Brehony (40 mins), D Meehan (Galway, 0-1) for Bradshaw (47 mins), S Davey (Sligo) for Conroy (57 mins).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).