Ireland international Gary Cullen sensationally quit the Leinster side just 24 hours before they battle Ulster for the Interprovincial crown at Killarney.

Cullen was upset at being dropped for both the foursomes and singles in Leinster 10-3 win over Munster yesterday and has decided not to take any further part in the competition.

The Beaverstown man lost five and four to Colm Moriarty in the singles on Wednesday and by the same margin in partnership with Eoin O'Sullivan in the foursomes, forcing the Leinster management to leave him out of the side altogether yesterday.

Leinster team captain Padraig Hogan said: "I felt I could not do justice to Gary or the team by picking him today and I wasn't going to change the foursomes anyway.

"He's about upset about it but sometimes you can do more harm to a player's confidence by picking him when he is not in form than by leaving him out."

Cullen's intention is to try and qualify for the European Tour in September but he has been frustrated by poor form over the past year and half.

Ulster will battle Leinster for the Golfsure sponsored championship thanks to a hard fought 8-5 win over Connacht yesterday.

Tied 2-2 with Connacht after the morning foursomes, Ulster came through strongly in the afternoon with singles wins for Stuart Paul, John Foster, Andrew McCormick, Chris Moriarty and Robert Forsythe.

Ulster could have gone in for lunch 3-1 up but Peter Martin and Johnny Foster three putted the 18th to give Connacht a point that had looked beyond them earlier in the match. It was bad day over all for Martin who also lost by one hole in the singles.

He was level with Sean McTernan playing the 17th but lost that one to a birdie four and then failed to hole a four footer for birdie at the last after his Co. Sligo opponent had holed form eight feet for par after missing the green left.

Leinster, however, had no major problems in seeing off Munster having taken a 4-0 lead from the foursomes. They eventually came through 10 ­3 after winning four and halving four of the afternoon singles.

Justin Kehoe beat an out of sorts Tim Rice seven and six to send them on their way before Noel Fox edged out Mark Murphy by one hole and Adrian Morrow came back from two down with three to play to halve with Danny Sugrue.

Mark Campbell then beat Karl Bornemann two and one to ensure Leinster's overall and set up a head to head match with Ulster for the title today.

Ulster 8; Connacht 5
Foursomes: S. Paul & A. McCormick bt D. Mortimer & C. Waters 2 & 1; J. Foster & P. Martin lost to C. Moriarty & D. Loughnane 1 hole; A Morris & G. Maybin bt K. Kearney & D. McNamara 2 holes; M. McGeady & C. Moriarty lost to S. McTernan & M. O'Sullivan 1 hole. Ulster 2; Connacht 2 Singles: S. Paul bt C. Moriarty 3 & 2; J. Foster bt C. Waters 7 & 6 A. McCormick bt D. Mortimer 2 & 1; M. McGeady lost to K. Kearney 4 & 3; S. McMonagle lost to M. Rowe 2 & 1; P. Martin lost to S. McTernan 1 hole; A. Morris bt D. McNamara 6 & 5; R. Forsythe bt M. O'Sullivan 1 hole; C. Moriarty bt D. Loughnane 6 & 4. Ulster 6; Munster 3.

Leinster 10; Munster 3
Foursomes: A. Morrow & J. Kehoe bt T Rice and M Barrett 7 & 6; N. Fox & M. McGinley bt K. Bornemann & J, Morris 3 & 2; M. Campbell & E. O'Sullivan bt M. Murphy & D. Sugrue 3 & 2; M. McDermott & G. McNeill bt P. Dooley & P. Power 3 & 2. Leinster 4; Munster 0. Singles: J. Kehoe bt T. Rice 7 & 6; N. Fox bt M. Murphy 1 hole; A. Morrow halved with D. Sugrue; M. Campbell bt K. Bornemann 2 & 1; M. McGinley halved with P. Murray; M. McDermott halved with M. Barrett; R. Cannon lost to J. Morris 3 & 2; E. O'Sullivan bt P. Power 1 hole; G. McNeill halved with P. Dooley. Leinster 6; Munster 3.

Match: Leinster 2; Ulster 2, Connacht 0, Munster 0.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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