Connacht still on course for title

Connacht, who surprised defending champions Ulster on the opening day, scored another big victory yesterday in the Interprovincial Championship sponsored by Golfsure at Royal Dublin when they beat Munster 7 1/2 - 5 1/2.

Connacht, who face Leinster in today's final series of matches, need just a share of the spoils to capture their first title since 1983.

Trailing 3-1 after the morning foursomes Connacht's cause did not look too good when they took just a half point from the top three singles in the afternoon. However, Daire Loughnane set them on the victory trail when he added to his growing reputation with a one-hole victory over John Morris.

David Mortiner, who holed a vital putt in the foursomes to earn a half point, added another point with a 5 and 4 win over Danny Sugrue and Colm Cassidy followed with a one-hole win over Pat Murray. The Westerners went on to take the last three matches with Sean McTernan, Mark O'Sullivan and David Dunne all winning to secure another memorable victory.

Leinster, trailing 2 1/2 - 1 1/2 after the foursomes, lost four of the last five matches when going down 8-5 to Ulster.

After Noel Fox gained a half with Ciaran McMonagle, Gavin McNeill squared the match with a 2 and 1 win over Michael Hoey and Justin Kehoe beat Stuart Paul on the 15th. However, that was as good as it got for Leinster and wins for Michael Sinclair, Peter Martin, David Jones and Michael McGeady saw them safely home.

Ireland finished with the wooden spoon for the third year in-a-row at the Girls Home Internationals at Downfield, Dundee yesterday. England did not beat them quite as easily as expected but a 7-2 final scoreline gave them the Stroyan Cup as overall champions for a 42nd time. Scotland, who edged out Wales 5-4, gained the Swansea Spoon as runners-up.

Ireland's women's golf officials will be concerned at a continuing lack of success at under-18 level. Irish girls' champion Martina Gillen held English champion Sophie Walker to a half match in the singles after the foursomes had been lost 2 1/2 - 1/2. Gillen finished the three days without a win. Two halved ties on the final day against England were the best she could muster.

The Irish flame was finally extinguished in the British Boys' Open Amateur Championship at Hillside, Southport yesterday when Philip McLaughlin went down in the fifth round to impressive French teenager Gregory Bourdy. The 18-year-old scratch handicapper from Ballyliffin lost by 3 and 2 after always facing an uphill battle. Earlier he had been involved in an unusual tussle with Oake Manor's Jon Ball and eventually prevailed at the first extra hole of sudden death.

McLaughlin was, in fact, three up with three to play but lost them all to go up the l9th. During that disappointing spell he three putted twice. But when Ball hit a wild shot and almost went out of bounds at the l9th, the Irish Junior International pounced and moved into the last sixteen. Bourdy quickly established an advantage in their fifth round game and was good value for his 3 and 2 success.