LEINSTER won the women's interprovincial match play championship for the second time since the series began 32 years ago when, in the deciding match at Shannon yesterday, they beat Munster, giving them an overall win by two and a half matches to Munster's two. Ulster finished on one and a half and Connacht won no matches.
Munster had only to draw with Leinster to win their sixth title, but yesterday they could only halve two decisive matches in the afternoon singles that they looked like winning, and they lost by five and a half to three and a half.
Leinster got off to a great start when they took two and a half points out of the three foursomes. Suzanne Fanagan (Milltown) was three down after eight to the current Irish Close champion, Barbara Hackett (Castletroy), but she made a great comeback to win.
The issue was decided in two matches. Yvonne Cassidy came from being three down with five to play against Irene Murphy of Cork to square to match on the last green and Hazel Kavanagh (Grange), who was one down to Tricia Mangan (Ennis), hit a great drive, a three wood and a wedge to 12 feet at the 18th for a birdie to halve a match she looked like losing.
Lillian Behan (Curragh) was beaten by one hole by Eileen Rose Power in the battle of the big hitters. Behan, however, was recalled to the Irish team for the home internationals next month after an absence of II years, during which she became a professional.
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