Leinster lived up to their billing as favourites when they scorched to a 7 1/2 ­ 2 1/2 win over Ulster to take the AIB Ladies' Interprovincial Matches for the eighth year in succession at the Island yesterday.

Clinical on day one against Munster and unstoppable in their clash with Connacht on Thursday, Leinster came through their most difficult match unscathed yesterday and made a strong Ulster side look positively ordinary on a beautiful day for links golf.

Any hopes that Ulster might have entertained of sneaking the championship were dashed by lunchtime when they sat down having lost all three of the morning foursomes for the second day in a row.

Jennifer Gannon and Sinead Keane sent the champions on the road to victory with a magnificent two-hole victory over Alison Coffey and Helen Jones in the top foursomes match.

The Leinster pair were approximately two under par for the trip, and having turned one up they were never behind and eventually increased their margin at the last with a birdie four as the Ulster pair found themselves in deep rough on the right in two and failed to find the putting surface in regulation.

Wins for Hazel Kavanagh and Elaine Dowdall by 4 and 3, and for Martina Gillen and Deirdre Smith by one hole left Ulster decidedly shell-shocked and gave Jackie Quinn's side the confidence to deliver the coup de grace in the afternoon.

Alison Coffey vented her frustration with a resounding 6 and 5 win over Elaine Dowdall but wins for Hazel Kavanagh and Sinead Keane in the next two matches gave Leinster the five points they need to ensure that they retained the title.

Deirdre Smith, who came from three down after six holes to beat Jill McAuley 2 and 1 and Jennifer Gannon provided the other Leinster wins as Bronagh Lunney halved her match with Martina Gillen thanks to a birdie four a the 18th Munster finished as runners-up when they beat Connacht 6 1/2 ­ 3 1/2 but once again the western province showed that they are no longer a soft touch at this level.

Evelyn Hearn's charges won a tight foursomes exchange 2-1 before finishing the championship in fine style by taking four wins and a half from the seven singles matches.

Claire Coughlan, Tricia Mangan, Eileen-Rose Power and Bridget Gleeson ­ Healy all won their matches as Marian Riordan halved with Suzanne Corcoran.

Ulster 2 1/2; Leinster 7 1/2.
Foursomes: A. Coffey & H. Jones lost to J. Gannon & S. Keane 2 holes; J.McAuley & C Smith lost to E. Dowdall & H. Kavanagh 4 & 3; B. Lunney & J. Black lost to M. Gillen & D. Smith 1 hole. Foursomes result: Ulster 0; Leinster 3 Singles: A. Coffey bt E. Dowdall 6 & 5; J. Black lost to H. Kavanagh 5 & 4; E. Dickson lost to S. Keane 2 & 1; H. Jones bt M. Morrin 2 & 1; C. Smyth lost to J. Gannon 2 & 1; B. Lunney halved with M. Gillen; J. McAuley lost to D. Smith 2 & 1. Singles result: Ulster 2 1/2; Leinster 4 1/2.

Connacht 3 1/2; Munster 6 1/2.
Foursomes: S. Corcoran & M. Holmes bt C. Coughlan & T. Mangan 2 & 1; E. MacMullen & D. McGowan lost to E.R. Power & M. Riordan 2/1; L. O'Brien & A. Geoghegan lost to S. Galvin & M. Sheehy 1 hole. Foursomes result: Connacht 1; Munster 2 Singles: D. Judge lost to C. Coughlan 4 & 3; L. O'Brien lost to T. Mangan 2 & 1; D. McGowan lost to E.R. Power 4 & 3; A. Geoghegan lost to B. Gleeson Healy 4 & 2; M. Holmes bt S. Galvin 3 & 2; S. Corcoran halved with M. Riordan; E. MacMullen bt M. Sheehy 2 & 1. Singles result: Connacht 2 1/2; Munster 4 1/2.

Final standings: Leinster 3, Munster 2, Ulster 1, Connacht 0.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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