MUNSTER only have to halve with Leinster today in the final round of the Women's Interprovincial championship to win the title for the first time since 1993. Leinster have to take five of the nine matches to retain the trophy for the third year.

Yesterday, in ideal conditions on the beautiful, free lined Shannon course, Leinster, the holders for the past two years, were held to a draw by Ulster.

Munster, after taking 2 1/2 points from the three matches against Connacht in the foursomes, had to share the singles, and beat the western province by 5 1/2 to 3 1/2.

After a lean opening in the morning foursomes, Connacht got off to a great start in the singles when 24 year old Lillian O'Brien (Claremorris) beat the Irish champion, Barbara Hackett (Castletroy) on the 17th green.

The Connacht woman was one up playing the 15th, which was halved in birdies after she rolled up a long putt to the hole when the Castletroy player pitched from the apron of the green to within a yard of the hole. O'Brien hit a crisp five Iron to the flag at the next and a nine iron to the 146 yard 17th over the edge of the estuary gave her the match.

Munster then came back impressively with their two other internationals, Eileen Rose Power and Eavan Higgins beating the mother and daughter pair of Helen MacMullen and Eileen MacMullen (Donegal).

In the other match of the day, Leinster champion, Suzanne Fanagan was taken to the last green by Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint) a 23 year old former junior international. The Leinster woman pitched into the hole from just off the green at the second for an eagle three to go one up, but a birdie at the sixth by the Ulster player squared the match.

However, the Leinster champion birdied the eighth with a drive and a three wood over the stream and pitched to two and a half feet from the flag to go one up again. At the 18th the Ulster player had a 15 foot putt which would have halved the match but failed after her opponent lipped the hole from 25 feet.