Ulster lose in hurling semi-final

Ulster's Barry Owens and Karol Mannion of Connacht

Ulster put up a spirited effort before losing 4-13 to 1-28 in Saturday's M Donnelly Interprovincial Hurling semi-final at Ballybofey.

Kieran Kelly scored three goals for Ulster with Neil McManus also finding the net and Paul McCormack top points scorer for the province with six.

Angus Callanan scored Connacht's only goal in the first half, helping them to a 1-14 to 3-5 interval lead.

Niall Healy hit 10 Connacht points while Sean Glynn notched six scores.

A sparse enough attendance made the trip for the first ever hurling game under lights at the Donegal venue.

Ulster were in the game for much of the first half but Connacht were always in control in the second period.

Connacht were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead after thirteen minutes but the sides were level after twenty three minutes when midfielder Neil McManus hit a cracker of a goal to tie the game up at 0-8 to 1-5.

Connacht's response was immediate with three points inside two minutes from Niall Healy, Iarla Tannian and Angus Callanan followed by a great goal from full-forward Callanan.

But Ulster replied with a second goal from full-forward Kieran Kelly.

Centre half-forward Niall Healy was in impressive form from placed balls, hitting five in the opening half, two of them coming in the closing stages to stretch the half-time gap to three points.

That brace of points came after a third Ulster goal from a 20m free from Kieran Kelly which just left a point between the sides.

Early in the second half Connacht substitute Kevin Hynes increased their lead but Kieran Kelly struck at the other end for his third goal.

However, Ulster were never a threat after that as Healy, Glynn and Iarla Tannian tacked on points at will.

Scorers: Ulster - Kieran Kelly 3-0,1f; Paul McCormack 0-6,3f; Declan Coulter 0-4; Karl McKeegan 0-1,65; Simon McCorry, Eddie McCoskey 0-1 each.

Connacht: Niall Healy 0-10,7f; Sean Glynn 0-6; Angus Callanan 1-3; Iarla Tannian 0-3; Alan Kerins, Kevin Hynes 0-2 each; Fergal Healy, Kenneth Burke 0-1 each.

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Ulster: Graham Clarke (Down), S Delargy (Antrim, capt), M McCambridge (Antrim), A Graffin (Antrim), J Donnelly (Donegal), K McKeegan (Antrim), Gabriel Clarke (Down), K McGarry (Fermanagh), N McManus (Antrim), M Herron (Antrim), P McCormack (Armagh), D Coulter (Armagh), T McIntosh (Tyrone), K Kelly (Antrim), D Cullen (Donegal).