Munster clinch title on final day

Province secures Interprovincial Championship with victory over Ulster in decider

Geoff Lenehan: supplied the half point required by Munster. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho

Munster took the Interprovincial Championship on a thrilling final day at The Island with victory over Ulster in the deciding match.

After the sides finished 2-2 in the morning foursomes, the early exchanges in the singles promised a close finish.

Gary Hurley and Robin Dawson claimed two early singles points to set Munster on their way, but Cormac Sharvin kept the defending champions in touch with a victory of his own at the 16th.

Gary O’Flaherty’s 2-1 win over Irish Close champion John Ross Galbraith was a reversal of the semi-final at that championship in Seapoint earlier this year, and it proved vital as it left Munster needing only a half from the remaining matches.

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That half point was duly delivered by Geoff Lenehan against Colm Campbell.

John Hickey followed that with a two-hole victory over Colin Fairweather, while Stephen Coulter and Pat Murray halved in the final match.

Meanwhile, Leinster pulled away from Connacht in the singles to claim third place – taking six of the seven afternoon matches having taken a one-point lead from the foursomes.

Leinster powered to victory in the Boys Interprovincials, clinching their third title in a row thanks to a 7-3 victory over Munster on the final day.

A clean sweep of the three foursomes matches set them on their way. And victory was secured when Eoin Leonard beat Gary Ward.

Ulster beat Connacht in the other match with a powerful singles performance in which they swept the first six matches – David Brady salvaging something for Connacht in the final match.

Teenage sensation Olivia Mehaffey is the best placed Irish player at the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship in Estonia after her round of 72 yesterday moved her up the leader board. She sits tied 34th, some eight strokes off Spanish leader Noemi Jimenez heading into the third round today. Lisburn’s Paula Grant is just one shot behind her compatriot.