Ulster skipper David Young is set to lead his boys to a hat trick of wins in the Golfsure Interprovincial championship at Killarney today ­ without Walker Cup hotshots Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell.

McDowell and Hoey were heroes in Great Britain and Ireland's 15-9 away win over the USA in the Walker Cup last weekend, but Young reckons Ulster have enough strength in depth to clinch a magical three in a row.

He said: "Michael and Graeme did fantastically well and were all very proud of them. We'll miss them in Killarney but I still feel we've got a fantastic side.

"The other provinces will be gunning for us but if we play to our ability I'm sure we'll be in there at the end. Wsse've got a lot of talent here, Stuart Paul has played well this year and Johnny Foster is back after breaking his finger, so I'm quietly confident."

Young will be hoping for a repeat of the happy memories of the last time Interprovincial championship staged in Killarney. In 1975 he scored four wins from six matches to help steer Ulster towards victory.

But it won't be easy this year, with Leinster looking stronger than ever and keen to improve on their disappointing third place at Royal Dublin last year. Today they take on a Connacht side that they thrashed 9 1/5 3 1/2 last year, but it could be different this time.

While non-playing captain Padraig Hogan can count on the likes of South of Ireland winner Justin Kehoe, West winner Michael McDermott, Irish Close champion Gavin McNeill and classy Walker Cup panellist Noel Fox, Connacht won't be a pushover.

Mullingar Scratch winner Colm Moriarty will be a force alongside East of Ireland champion Ken Kearney and Sligo swinger Sean McTernan.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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