Connacht and Munster turned the form book on its head when they beat Leinster and Ulster, respectively, in yesterday's opening series of matches in the Interprovincial Championship at the Slieve Russell Golf Club.

Holders Leinster had no answer for the westerners and after losing the foursomes 3-1 they could only muster 3.5 points from the afternoon singles to go down 8.5-4.5. Munster, meantime, staged a winning recovery - after losing the foursomes 3.5 to 0.5 they came back to take 6½ points from the afternoon singles for a 7-6 victory.

And it could have been worse for the holders in the morning as Gavin McNeill and Eoin O'Sullivan came from two down with three wins in row from the 15th in par, birdie, birdie for a one-hole win over David Dunne and David Mortimer.

However, it was more of the same in the afternoon as Connacht took the fight to Leinster. They were up in seven of the nine matches at the turn with Colm Moriarty leading the way.

Moriarty turned one-up on Irish Close champion John McGinn and won holes 10 and 14 to go three-up and finished the match in style with a birdie two at the 16th.

Ken Kearney and East of Ireland champion Noel Fox had a battle royal in the second match with Fox coming from one-down after 14 to square the match on the 15th with a birdie three. Halves at the last two gave them a share of the points.

Connacht were rolling towards a famous victory when Seán McTernan beat Leinster veteran Adrian Morrow 6 and 5 while Connacht youth, Derek McNamara, was impressive in dismissing Michael McGinley on the 14th. Mortimer made sure of a Connacht win when beating Mullingar Scratch Trophy-winner Eoin O'Sullivan 5 and 4.

Leinster's only points in the singles came late in the day with wins from youth international Robert McCarthy, Gavin McNeill and debutant Mark Ryan.

Munster captain Ger O'Sullivan, had to do some hard talking after his side failed to win a match in the morning foursomes. "I told them to start playing the golf they were capable of. The foursomes were a bit misleading, it should have finished 2-2 but we let it slip over the closing holes in the morning."

With Tim Rice losing the top match 5 and 4 to North of Ireland champion Gareth Maybin, Munster responded by taking five points from the next six matches. Padraig Dooley was far too steady for Stuart Paul winning on the 15th, Mark Murphy had a one-hole win over Andrew McCormack and Danny Sugrue beat Michael McGeady 5 and 4.

Colwyn Martin added another Munster point and the experienced Karl Bournemann made sure of an unlikely Munster success when he got up and down from a greenside bunker on the 18th for a one-hole win over Rory Leonard.

CONNACHT 8½ LEINSTER 4½

Foursomes (Connacht names first): K Kearney, S McTernan bt N Fox, M McGinley 5 and 4; C Moriarty, M Rowe bt M Cdermott, L Ryan 5 and 4; D McNamara, M McTernan bt J McGinn, M Ryan 4 and 3; D Dunne, D Mortimer lost to G McNeill, E O'Sullivan 1 hole. (Connacht 3 Leinster 1). Singles: C Moriarty bt J McGinn 3 and 2; K Kearney halved with N Fox; S McTernan bt A Morrow 6 and 5; N Kavanagh bt M McDermott 2 and 1; D McNamara bt M McGinley 2 and 1; M Rowe lost to R McCarthy 2 and 1; D Mortimer bt E O'Sullivan 5 and 4; M McTernan lost to G McNeill 2 and 1; D Dunne lost to M Ryan 4 and 3. (Connacht 5½ Leinster 3½).

MUNSTER 7 ULSTER 6

Foursomes (Munster names first): T Rice, M Collins lost to S Paul, A McCormick 3 and 2; K Bournemannm P Dooley lost to G Maybin, D Crowe 3 and 2; D Sugrue, M Murphy halved with J Foster, R Forsythe; D Finn, M Owens lost to M McGeady, R Leonard 3 and 2. (Munster ½ Ulster 3½). Singles: T Rice lost to G Maybin, P Dooley bt S Paul 5 and 3; M Murphy bt A McCormick 1 hole; M Owens halved with J Foster; D Sugrue bt M McGeady 5 and 4; C Martin bt R Forsythe 2 and 1; K Bournemann bt R Leonard 1 hole; P O'Keeffe lost to C Montgomery 2 and 1; M Collins bt P Purdy 2 and 1. (Munster 6½ Ulster 2½)