AT RATHMlNES yesterday. Munster failed to find the form which enabled them to defeat Northwest recently; but Leinster's ultimate, five-wicket success in this senior interprovincial championship match was by no means as clear cut as it might seem.

A couple of spilled catches may not have guaranteed a Munster victory, but they certainly diminished the team's resolve and denied them a major psychological boost.

The failure of Garrett Holland to hold the catch off Scot Morone's bowling, which would have dismissed Stewart McCready in the 25th over, was crucial. The unfortunate Holland would well have been excused had he subsequently given his team-mates a tongue-lashing in the dressing room afterwards. Why is it that, these days, cricketers apparently believe that screaming "catch it!" in unison is going to help the fielder under the dropping ball.

Because of early rain, some 84 minutes were lost, and the match was reduced to 45 overs a side. Munster batted first and were reeling at 33 for 3, when Marone and Richie Waddell made a match of it by putting on 76 for the fourth wicket.

When Waddell was caught and bowled by Greg Molins, he had scored 33 off 55 balls. Marone, the game's top scorer with 43, faced 77 balls and hit six fours in a very impressive innings, but the only other Monster batsmen to reach double figures were Ted Williamson and Steve Smith.

A target of 148 to win was hardly a challenge beyond Leinster's capabilities, and the 3 which Jason Molins and Ed Joyce put on for the first wicket was a comfortable cushion before Wad dell had Molins caught by Morone. But then Alan Lewis, Joyce and Johnny Byrne all departed rapidly, and suddenly Leinster were 70 for 4 with 24 overs bowled.

In the next over, the hapless Holland let McCready off the hook. Then Waddell got a hand to a drive from the same batsman; if held, it would have been a fine catch, but in the event McCready was given another life, and Munster simply could not afford such generosity. Angus Dunlop speeded up the run rate, clobbering a six and a four off John Power from successive balls before later smiting Morone for another six in a useful 28. When Power trapped Dunlop leg before, Leinster were on 100 for five, in the 30th over.

McCready, with good support from Brian McNiece, responded to the challenge, and was Leinster's top scorer, with a valuable innings of 41. Leinster got home with six overs and one ball to spare, and Munster were left to rue lost opportunities.