In Pics: Celtic League: Ulster 19 Leinster 24

Pictured above: Gordon D’Arcy goes over for the first of Leinster’s two second half tries which changed the course of Monday’s night provincial derby. D’Arcy’s 43rd-minute effort was his second try of current Celtic League campaign, and his third in three December games for the province. The 24-19 result closed the gap between fourth-placed Leinster and third-placed Ulster to just a single point.

Ireland’s most capped player Malcolm O’Kelly leads a Leinster attack with Wallaby lock Justin Harrison (right) in close attendance.

Leinster and Ireland full-back Girvan Dempsey comes under pressure from Ulster captain Simon Best. Dempsey’s 54th-minute score was his second try in consecutive inter-provincial Celtic League games. The Terenure College clubman also scored in the 21-9 defeat of Connacht on December 3.

Ulster’s young centre Andrew Trimble tries to avoid the grasp of both Gordon D’Arcy (hidden) and Leinster’s stand-in skipper Felipe Contepomi (right). Trimble, 21, was voted Ireland’s player of the autumn International series by irishrugby.ie users earlier this month.

Leinster try scorer Girvan Dempsey is tackled by his opposite number Bryn Cunningham at Ravenhill.

Leinster number 8 Jamie Heaslip carries into a double tackle from Ulster centres Andrew Trimble and Kevin Maggs. Heaslip’s back row colleague Keith Gleeson was voted as man-of-the-match at Ravenhill.

Leinster scrum half Guy Easterby cannot stop his Ireland colleague Tommy Bowe from sliding in for Ulster’s only try of the night after 26 minutes. Like Dempsey, winger Bowe’s score was his second try in consecutive inter-provincial Celtic League games. The former Monaghan minor footballer also touched down in the 20-17 defeat of Munster on December 3. Bowe is currently the League’s top try scorer with 5 tries in 8 games.

**All photos by Lorraine O’Sullivan of Inpho Photography**