WOMEN'S INTERPROVINCIALS: Munster bridged a nine-year gap when they beat champions Leinster 6-5 in the opening series of matches in the Women's Interprovincial Championship at Mount Wolseley yesterday.
And three members of the 1993 winning team - Eileen Rose Power, Mary Sheehy and Bridget Gleeson Healy - played their part.
After losing the singles 2-1, Munster came good in the afternoon, taking five of the eight singles matches. Clare Coughlan led the way in the top match with a 3 and 2 win over Martina Gillen.
All square after nine holes, Coughlan struck a vital blow with an unlikely win at the 13th where she found a bunker off the tee.
However, the Munster champion played an excellent shot to 20 feet after Gillen - short from the middle of the fairway - failed to get down in a pitch and putt.
Coughlan went two up at the next where Gillen was again short, and a drive and three-wood to 20 feet at the long 15th put the Cork woman dormie. She closed out the match at the par three 16th which was halved in par.
This set the trend for a dismal afternoon for Leinster, as first Trish Mangan was an all-the-way winner over Leinster strokeplay champion Maria Dunne, winning on the 12th, while Marian Riordan played a solid game to beat Woodbrook's Sue Phillips 3 and 2.
Maura Morris struck the first point for Leinster with a 6 and 5 win over Mary Sheehy, but Munster needed only one more point for victory after former Irish champion Power beat Mary Dowling on the 17th.
Although Sinead Keane and Deirdre Smith kept Leinster's slim hopes alive with wins over Gillian O'Leary and Gleeson Healy, Munster's victory was secured when Sheila Galvin beat Jenny Gannon 3 and 2.
The morning foursomes went on expected lines with Leinster winning 2-1. Killen and Dunne beat Coughlan and Mangan 3 and 2, while Leinster's other point came from Gannon and Keane who, turning two up, beat Gleeson Healy and Sheehy 4 and 2.
The final match was a much closer affair with the Leinster pair of Morrin and Smith taking the match to the 18th against Power and Riordan after being dormie three down. They won the 16th in par, and Gannon chipped in at the 17th to take the match the distance, but the Munster pair held on for a two hole win after Leinster bunkered their second shot.
Connacht came close to a first success over Ulster for years when they shared the points 5½-5½ with the deciding match between Ulster's Jill McAuley and Connacht's Sarah Gallagher going to the 18th. One down playing the 18th, Gallagher salvaged a half after McAuley found the water.
LEINSTER 5, MUNSTER 6.
Foursomes: M Gillen and M Dunne bt C Coughlan and T Mangan 3/2; M Morrin and D Smith lost to E Power and M Riordan 2 holes; J Gannon and S Keane bt B Gleeson Healy and M Sheehy 4/2. Result: Leinster 2, Munster 1.
Singles: M Gillen lost to C Coughlan 3/2; M Dunne lost to T Mangan 7/6; S Phillips lost to M Riordan 3/2; M Dowling lost to E Power 2/1; M Morrin bt M Sheehy 6/5; J Gannon lost to S Galvin 3/2; S Keane bt G O'Leary 2/1; D Smith bt B Gleeson Healy 4/3. Result: Leinster 3, Munster 5.
CONNACHT 5 ½ ULSTER 5½
Foursomes: D McGowan and R Lennon bt H Jones and N Quigg 4/2; S Corcoran and M Holmes lost to E Dickson and N Moore 1 hole; D Judge and S Gallagher bt C Smyth and G Hegarty 3/2. Result: Connacht 2 Ulster 1.
Singles: D McGowan bt E Dickson 2/1; S Corcoran bt H Jones 3/2; R Lennon lost to N Quigg 2/1; M Holmes bt N Moore 6/5; D Judge lost to B McLarnon 2/1; S Gallagher halved with J McAuley; R McGoldrick lost to C Smyth 7/5; T de Courcey lost to G Hegarty 6/5. Result: Connacht 3½, Ulster 4½.
TODAY'S DRAW
Ulster v Munster: Foursomes: Jones and Quigg v Coughlan and Mangan; Smyth and McAuley v Power and Riordan; Dickson and Hegarty v O'Learyand Sheehy
Connacht v Leinster: Foursomes: McGowan and Lennon v Dunne and Gillen; Corcoran and Holmes v Gannon and Keane; Judge and Gallagher v Morrin and Smith.
