Leinster fired a warning shot across the bows of their opponents at Enniscrone yesterday and it was a clear signal that they do not intend to relinquish their grip on the men's Interprovincial Championship easily.

Leinster brushed aside the Connacht challenge 8 1/2 - 5 1/2 while Ulster, the runners-up at Portstewart last year, also showed that they are in form as they swept to a massive 10-3 victory over Munster.

Gary Cullen and Justin Kehoe set the scene for the holders in the morning foursomes as they beat Ken Kearney and Chris Moriarty 3 and 2. The holders took three of the morning foursomes with David Dunne and David Mortimer getting a point for Connacht as they beat South of Ireland champion Mark Campbell and Gavin McNeill 4 and 2.

In the afternoon singles Kearney won the top match against Cullen by 2 and 1 and after Noel Fox tied it up with a 3 and 1 win over Moriarty, Mortimer was again in top form winning 4 and 3. However, it wasn't to be for Connacht as Leinster took the next three matches.