Football

As it happened: Ulster win the Inter-Provincial series after dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Connacht as rules prove impactful

Leinster defeated Munster to win the Shield final as the FRC showcase the new proposed rules of gaelic football

Connacht's Jack Carney kicks a two point score from outside the new 40 metre arc, in the first half of Friday night's inter-provincial game against Leinster. Picture by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Leinster v Connacht - Allianz GAA Football Interprovincial Championship Semi-Final Connacht's Jack Carney kicks a two point score from outside the new 40 metre arc, in the first half of Friday night's inter-provincial game against Leinster. Picture by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile (Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE/SPORTSFILE)
By Liam Grimley

Ulster win the Inter-provincial Championship after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Connacht.

Connacht started strong, scoring two goals early on but Ulster grew into the game and kept chipping away at the scores throughout the game.

Rian O’Neill put in a Player of the Match performance after putting on a shooting clinic in the second half.

After Galway’s Johnny Heaney scored a late two-point score to level the sides at the death 4-15 (31) to 2-23 (31), penalties decided the day, with Down’s Odhran Murdock scoring the winning kick after Tyrone keeper Niall Morgan saved four penalties.

Earlier, Leinster won the shield final after appearing like a completely different team against Munster, ultimately winning out 1-19 (23) to 1-15 (19)

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Following yesterday’s semi-finals, the four provinces had another opportunity to demonstrate the seven ‘core enhancements’ proposed by the FRC.

Last night, Connacht convincingly defeated Leinster, using the new scoring system to their advantage and not letting their foot off the gas, the scoreline ended up 4-21 to 1-11, which amounts to 37 points to 15 under the new rules.

Ulster also won their semi-final, opting to stick to patient scoring and working their way closer to goal and using Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan under the new rules, which earned him the Man of the Match award.

Following the game, Armagh midfielder Niall Grimley said that the overarching feeling after the game was ‘tiredness’.

Tonight, Munster play Leinster in the third-place play-off and then Ulster play Connacht in the Railway Cup final.

Leinster were a completely changed side from their semi-final loss to Connacht.

Their use of the increased space and change in scoring was paramount to them winning the shield final against Munster.