The Ulster cause was not helped before the game by the late withdrawal due to injury of Ireland Under 19 players Jamie Smith and Tommy Seymour. 

Just like the earlier encounter between these 2 sides, this was a fiercely contested game with very little to choose between the teams. Leinster had the wind in their favour in the first half and whilst enjoying territorial advantage, found the Ulster defence very difficult to breach. They eventually took the lead after 30 minutes with a penalty and followed this with a converted try just before the break to lead 10-0 at half time.

Ulster got the best of starts in the second half with winger Chris Cochrane sprinting in from 60 metres in the second minute and Harry McAleese converting to leave Ulster training by just 3 points. However, the Leinster defence was showing the same grit that Ulster had displayed in the first half and Ulster too often found themselves trying to attack from their own half with little effect. However, with 10 minutes remaining, a number of driving mauls form the Ulster pack forced a penalty from Leinster and Harry McAleese duly converted to tie the scores at 10-10. Ulster continued to press but a breakaway by Leinster in the last minute took play into the Ulster 22 where Ulster were penalised for slowing the ball and Leinster kicked the goal to deny Ulster the title.

Afterwards, Manager John McKibbin, whilst disappointed with the result, was full of praise for the way the Ulster squad had played throughout the competition. “These players have given up their summer to prepare for this competition and to have won the league section with 3 wins out of three was a tremendous achievement. Even in the final, we could not have asked more from these players and whilst they will be disappointed to have lost, particularly with the last kick of the game, they can take considerable pride in the way they have performed for their province and what they have achieved.”

ULSTER TEAM

15: David McIlwaine (Andy Moore 50 min), 14: Stuart Lester, 13: David Funston, 12: Will Stewart, 11: Chris Cochrane, 10: Harry McAleese, 9: Michael Wilson, (Ian Porter 55 min) 1: Paul Karayiannis, 2: Stephen Douglas, 3: Mathew Nelson, 4: Patrick McGowan, 5: James Sandford (David Bradford 50 min), 6: Neil Alcorn (Alistair Birch 65 min) 7: Michael Entwhistle, 8: David Johnston (James Elliott 70 min)