Playing away from the clubhouse with the advantage of a slight breeze, Ulster came out of the blocks strongly, and won an early penalty when Munster failed to release on the ground. The ball was kicked to the corner to set up a catch and drive. From the take the initial drive stalled, then Ulster gained a second momentum to carry Harry Long over for the opening score. Enniskillen’s Eddie Keys converted to give Ulster 7-0 lead after 3 minutes.
Ulster dominated the next ten minutes, but against the run of play Munster got themselves into the game in the 14th minute. Winning a lineout 10 metres out, number 8 Kevin Kinnane made a strong drive, and when stopped short scrum half Aaron Rice picked up to dot down just right of the posts. Fullback Shane Airey duly converted to level the score at 7-7.
Ulster hit back two minutes later when Munster once again failed to release, and Keys delivered with his boot to put Ulster 10-7 clear.
From the restart Ulster attacked down the right side where Munster infringed at a ruck. Quick-thinking Ards scrum half Angus Christie took a tap and go, and with the Munster defence not reset, he raced clear into the 22 and touched down behind the posts. Keys added the extras for a 17-7 lead.
Munster were back on the scoreboard within minutes when number 8 Kevin Kinnane found a gap in the Ulster defensive line. Airey failed to convert but the visitors closed the gap to 17-12.
Ulster remained disciplined and were rewarded on thirty-two minutes when they kicked deep towards the Munster line where Sean Murphy was caught by a determined Ulster kick chase as he attempted to counter from behind his line. Ulster quickly resourced the breakdown and counter-rucked under the posts with Dean Dillon the first to get his hand on the ball to score. Keys once again converted for a 24-12 lead.
From the restart Ulster infringed and Munster kicked for the corner. The lineout was secured and Kinnane powered over for his second and Munster's third try, which was converted by Airey. 24-19
Ulster had the final say in the first half when centre Robbie Johnston finished off a sweeping backline move to cross in the right hand corner. The score was unconverted, and Ulster went into halftime 29-19 in front.
Half Time: Ulster Juniors 29 -19 Munster Juniors
On forty-six minutes Munster won a penalty and kicked for the left corner. Possession was secured and as Munster drove for the line where Ulster collapsed the maul and the referee awarded a penalty-try. Ulster captain Curtis Pollock receiving a yellow card for his trouble. 29-26.
As the second half progressed Munster began to dominate play and the game became quite scrappy for a period. The couple of occasions the visitors put the Ulster defence under sustained pressure but failed to make final passes stick as the line beckoned.
On the hour mark Ulster started to regain territory and broke blind into the Munster 22, where the ball was fed to David Graham on the wing and he powered his way through three tackles to score in the left hand corner. Keys made the difficult conversion to put Ulster 36-26 clear.
Having secured a 10-point buffer the Ulster boys came off the rails in a three-minute spell which almost cost them the game. First Munster gained quick ball from the kick-off then played a sweeping backline move that cut open the Ulster defence, sending Frank Horgan through a gap to score under the posts. Airey added the extra points to bring the score to 36-33.
From the restart Ulster lost their shape again gifting flanker Sonny Dwyer lots of undefended space and he crossed unopposed to dot down behind the posts. Airey converted to take the visitors into the lead for the first time with 7 minutes remaining. 36-40
Ulster's response was a credit to them and they lifted their game for one final push. Munster infringed at a ruck and Ulster kicked for the touch on the Munster 22. The ball finally found local boy Gary Dillon, and the former Queens University backrow headed past three Munster men and into space to dive in for a try just left of the posts. Keys added the extras to take Ulster 43-40 clear with just a couple of minutes remaining.
Munster wasted no time and within seconds they had Ulster deep in their 22. The home side started to take the ball through phases in an attempt to run down the clock but the Munster pressure was rewarded and they won a penalty in front of the Ulster posts.
Munster wanted the win and kicked for touch in the right hand corner where they secured possession and mauled for the sore. Barbon Hill held it's breath as the mass of red jerseys crept over the line but the Ulster men held the maul up to win the turnover and the referee blew the final whistle which signalled the cue for jubilant celebration and a successive Inter-pro title for Ulster.
After the game IRFU Committee Member John McKibbin presented the Inter-Pro Trophy to Curtis Pollock the winning Ulster captain.
Full Time: Ulster Juniors 43 - 40 Munster Juniors
Ulster
Try: H Long, Dean Dillon, A Christie, R Johnston, D Graham, Gary Dillon
Conversion: E Keys (5)
Penalty: E Keys
Munster
Try: K Kinnane (2), Frank Horgan, Sonny Dwyer, A Rice, penalty try
Conversion: Shane Airey (4)
Teams
Ulster
15 Andrew McMurray (Cooke) 14. Michael Orr (Portadown), 13. Jonny Hunter (Dromore), 12. Dean Dillon (Dromore), 11. David Graham (City of Derry), 10. Eddie Keys (Enniskillen), 9. Angus Christie (Ards), 8. Gary Dillon (Dromore), 7. Curtis Pollock (Ballymoney, Capt), 6. Michael Rooney (Enniskillen), 5. David Brown (Ballymoney), 4. James Wright (Portadown), 3. Matthew Miller (Dromore), 2. Harry Long (Dromore), 1. Orran McIlmurray (Lurgan).
Replacements: 16 Tom-Arthur Donnan (Cooke), 17 Neil Rutledge (Enniskillen), 18 Ryan Emerson (Lurgan), 19 Will Scott (Ballymoney), 20 Jack Rutledge (Enniskillen), 21 Angus Keys (Enniskillen), 22 Sam Balfour (Enniskillen), 23 Adam Keating (Dromore).
Munster
15. Shane Airey (Newcastle West), 14. Sean Murphy (Newcastle West), 13. Brian J. O’Sullivan (Kanturk), 12. Laszlo Rabatin (Old Christians), 11. Sam Glynn (Mallow), 10. Adam Guerin (St. Mary’s), 9. Aaron Rice (Newcastle West), 8. Kevin Kinnane, (Kilfeacle, Capt), 7. Sonny Dwyer (Thurles), 6. Josh Brady (Bandon), 5. Killian O’Connell (Cobh Pirates), 4. Ruairi O’Donnell (St. Mary’s), 3. David Jennings (Clonakilty), 2. Tadgh McCarthy (Bantry Bay), 1. Nigel Clancy (Richmond).
Replacements: 16 Gearoid Walsh (Rugdai Chorca Dhuibhne), 17 Rob Loftus (Sundays Wells), 18 Cian Walsh (Old Christians), 19 Ben Kennedy (Cobh Pirates), 20 Jack Lonergan (Old Christians), 21 Ben Daly (Waterpark), 22 Brian P. O'Sullivan (Kanturk), 23 Frank Hogan (Muskerry).