Playing with the benefit of a strong breeze in the first half, Alasdair McKee's side played some expansive and entertaining rugby. They created numerous scoring opportunities but could only register a David O’Hara penalty in the opening 20 minutes.
It was half way through the first half when Andrew Hodgen scored Ulster’s first and only try under the posts. His CIYMS team mate O’Hara converted to bring the score to 0-10.
Academy winger Norman Carson thought he had notched a second shortly after but the referee adjudged that he had not touched down before the dead ball line. Unfortunately, it was Leinster who scored next with a breakaway try from fullback O’Donoghue. Donal Crotty added the extras but O’Hara landed another conversion to leaving the halftime score at 7-13.
The second half saw Ulster having to defend their line for long periods which they did bravely until the 72nd minute. With O’Hara in the sin bin, inside centre Darren O’Brien score was converted by Chris Jebb to edge his side into a 14-13 lead.
Ulster used all their substitutes as they tried manfully to play possession rugby into the wind. They did come close on a couple of occasions in the remaining 10 minutes, including a late penalty attempt from the returning O’Hara which drifted wide.
The result means Ulster finish third in the Championship but produced some good rugby throughout.