McHugh, the McGees and Murphy: Pic Kieran Murray Sports Images
Donegal players helped Ulster win a third inter-pro football title in a row under Joe Kernan with a 3-12 to 0-17 win over Leinster.
However Neil McGee missed the Croke Park game after picking up a back injury just before throw-in.
Two goals from Jamie Clarke, including a first-half penalty, and another from Monaghan forward Conor McManus helped Ulster recover from a bad start.
Derry defender Chrissy McKaigue was sent-off in the 69th minute for a second yellow card offence.
Dublin’s star forward Bernard Brogan was the top-scorer for Leinster with 0-11, which included nine frees.
The GAA had hoped for a reasonable turnout from the public at Croke Park, with the proceeds going to charity.
However, the game was devoid of intensity or atmosphere in the big Croke Park stadium with just a few thousand paying customers.
Ulster hit eight wides in the opening 24 minutes and manager Kernan called for Donegal’s All-Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy, who had been unavailable last week.
Ulster were lucky to only trail by 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time.
A brilliant strike from Conor McManus, after a pass from Clarke, put Ulster ahead five minutes into the second half.
Crossmaglen star Clarke banged in his second goal in the 53rd minute to put daylight between the teams, with Ulster five points clear.
Leinster went 39 minutes without scoring from play but Brogan’s frees kept them in touch until Kevin McManamon’s monster point broke their scoring drought.
Ulster maintained their cushion with points from Mark McHugh, Clarke and Sean Cavanagh.
Leinster finished strongly with points from Cluxton and Brogan, and although Derry defender McKaigue was sent-off for a second yellow card offence on Brogan, Ulster held on.
Ulster: P McConnell; C McKaigue, C McKeever, E McGee; A Kernan (0-1, f), D Hughes, P Harte (0-1); S Cavanagh (0-3, 3f), D Givney (0-1); M McHugh (0-1), M Penrose (0-1 f), Joe McMahon; J Clarke (2-1, one pen), K Niblock, C McManus (1-2)
Subs: M Murphy (0-1) for Niblock (25), Justin McMahon for McKeever (HT), G McKiernan for Givney (HT), M Poland for Penrose (59), K Hughes for McHugh (65).
Leinster: S Cluxton (0-1, a 45); K Lillis, G Molloy, B Malone; M Quinn, G Brennan, A Flynn; MD MacAuley, J Heslin (0-1); B Connor, B Murphy, C O’Sullivan; B Brogan (0-11, 9f), J Sheridan (0-3), R Barry
Subs: P Keenan for Connor (HT), R O’Carroll for Lillis (41), K McManamon (0-1) for Barry (44), S McCormack for Sheridan (54), J Stafford for Murphy (61)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
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