Munster rely on Bateman

Vigorous goalkeeping by Wesley Bateman was a major factor in Munster holding Ulster to a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the revamped Interprovincial Championship at Belfield on Saturday.

Ulster were the more incisive side but Bateman showed his authority from the start and was beaten only in the 44th minute when Julian Stevenson set up an equaliser for Mark Tumilty.

Although Munster lacked their punch of recent campaigns, they had the resolve to earn a point, especially after David Eakins had snatched the lead from a drag flick seven minutes into the second half.

The back four, with Karl Burns becoming increasingly accomplished, stood up stoutly to Ulster's greater volume of attack which was generated by the dominant midfield trio of Mark Raphael Lee Tumilty and Stevenson.

In Ulster's starting line-up of 10 internationals, the debutant left-back Gareth Cuddy (standing in for the injured Paddy Brown) was as effective as any of his team-mates.

On home ground later in the month, both teams will feel capable of containing the defending champions, Leinster However, the title will not be decided until the round-robin tournament in Dublin in February.

Meanwhile, Cable & Wireless signals on Saturday delivered the results of the first round of the Leinster Senior Cup.

The game in which the holders, Pembroke Wanderers, won only by 1-0 against second-division pace-setters Railway Union at Park Avenue, was a sparky joust in which two colours, red and several yellow cards, were produced.

Railway, coached by Ulsterman Philip Anderson and with a 100 per cent record in their surge back towards the Premier Division, put up the resistance that was expected of them.

With Brendan Parsons and Padraig O'Brien to the fore, they shared the exchanges in the opening half and it was only with 12 minutes to spare that Stephen Stewart succeeded in beating a defiant Glen Bailey to net the winner.

Monkstown gained some satisfaction after recent lapses in beating YMCA 2-1 at Ballinteer.

Brian Groves and Michael Trounce scored for the visitors and New Zealander Peter Long was on the target for YM.

MUNSTER: W Bateman; A Chambers, J Hobbs, K Burns, J Black; M Black, P Lombard, N Buttimer; C Hanna, A Dunne (capt), E Gash. Subs: D Eakins, J Jermyn, D Hales, J Ahern.

ULSTER: K Thompson; B Waring, D Smyth, E Lutton (capt), G Cuddy; M Raphael, L Tumilty, J Stevenson; C Jackson, M Tumilty, M Irwin. Subs: A Barbour, J Lewis.

Umpires: G Quail, E McFerran.