MEN'S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP: The Red Hand of Ulster was clenched in triumph as the defending champions etched out an 8-5 win over Leinster on the opening day of the Golfsure-sponsored Interprovincial matches at glorious Ballybunion yesterday. Brian Keogh reports from Ballybunion.

Winners of this title in three of the last four years, John Moss's charges looked ominously good at the magnificently prepared Kerry links as they racked up four wins and two halves in the afternoon singles.

Tied 2-2 after the morning foursomes, Ulster were always in control after lunch and were up in six of the nine matches at the turn, before closing out proceedings in clinical fashion against a Leinster side that left itself too much to do coming home.

It was a good day, too, for Connacht - who have not win this title since 1983 - when they surprised home province Munster by 8½-4½ to set up an interesting showdown with Ulster today.

Gareth Maybin, Michael McGeady, Michael Sinclair and Darren Crowe put points on the board early on for Ulster, and they needed only a half to be sure of victory before debutant Richard Kilpatrick beat The Island's Robert McCarthy by one hole.

Maybin was never troubled as he cruised to a 7 and 5 win over an out-of-sorts David Ryan, before McGeady sent them on their way when he eagled the 13th to take control of a tight match with Mark Campbell and record another one-hole win.

East of Ireland champion Sinclair edged out a combative Dessie Morgan by one hole as Crowe cruised to a 4 and 2 win over Mark Ryan.

It could have been even better for Ulster had Ballyclare's Johnny Foster not three-putted the 18th to allow Greenore's John McGinn to escape with a halved match, reciprocated by Alan Dowling of Hermitage, who was one up with three to play on Rory Leonard but lost the 16th and 18th and couldn't celebrate his Leinster debut with a win.

Munster recorded just three singles wins as they went down to a rampant Connacht side as Irish Close champion Mark O'Sullivan carded six birdies in an impressive 2 and 1 win over South of Ireland champion Mervyn Owens.

Teenager Clancy Bowe, Derek McNamara, Mark Rowe, Noel Kavanagh and Martin McTernan closed out the match with emphatic wins, while Michael McHugh came back from two down after nine to beat Stephen Moloney on the 18th.