Connacht 20
Ulster 3

Reigning champions Connacht advanced to the final of the Youth U-18 inter-provincials with an accomplished display at the Sportsground.

FIRED-UP... The Connacht youths prepare to pack down against Ulster at the Sportsground on Saturday led by their front row of David Henshaw, Karl Egan and Trevor Thompson.

The holders, bidding for a second grand slam success in the grade, did all the hard work in the opening half and then defended it superbly during a scoreless second period.

Ulster got a perfect start with a penalty from full-back Michael Lawton after just three minutes but it was Connacht who dominated after that.

Connacht hit back four minutes later with a superb individual try from scrumhalf Mark Dolan who, after receiving the ball from the back of a ruck on the Ulster 22, broke to the right to the surprise of the Ulster line and ran in to the right of the posts.

Four minutes later it was more of the same. This time it was right wing Kevin Russell who broke from the half way line, ran to the left past several Ulster players and finished his try in the near left corner.

The impressive out-half Adam Kennedy converted both and as Connacht continued to put the visitors under pressure he had the opportunity to land two penalties before the break.

Ulster were never allowed back into the game and Connacht will now hope to defend their crown when they take on Leinster in the decider at Mullingar this weekend.

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

Ulster:
Pen: Lawton

Connacht: B Carpenter; K Russell, C Conroy, S O'Meara, F Gormley; A Kennedy, M Dolan; D Henshaw, K Egan, T Thompson; S Casey, E McKeown; S Connolly, R Kerins, J Kenny.
Replacements: J Robinson for Henshaw, 50 mins; A Spring for McKeown, 58 mins; L Walsh for Connolly, 69 mins; M Dempsey 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.
Reaplacements: S Irvine for Simpson, 36 mins; F Lynch for Carscadden, 43 mins; R Irvine for Whitten, 53 mins; R Smyth for Weir, 69 mins.

Referee: K Beggs.

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