Ulster began their title defence in style with an emphatic 9 1/2 - 3 1/2 win over Munster in the Men's Senior Interprovincial Matches at Killarney's Lackabane course yesterday.

The holders of the title, Ulster lead 3-1 after the morning foursomes and then played superb golf in the singles, winning six and a half of the nine points on offer.

The pairings of Stuart Paul and Andrew McCormick, Johnny Foster and Peter Martin and Michael McGeady and Colm Moriarty proved too good for their Munster opponents with the only blemish coming in the third match where Andrew Morris and Gareth Maybin were beaten three and two by Karl Bornemann and John Morris.

With Leinster forced to come from behind after lunch before eventually beating Connacht 8-5, Ulster look likely to challenge strongly for a hat trick of interprovincial titles. In the singles, David Young's charges played superbly and there was a happy debut for Dunfanaghy's Seamus McMonagle, a late replacement for Michael Sinclair.

The Dublin based builder eventually trounced David Finn 3 & 2, after scorching into a six holes lead with six to play for his first win in a senior shirt.

Hilton Templepatrick's Robert Fosythe showed his class with a one hole win over John Morris. Level with the Mullingar man playing the 18th, the Hilton Templepatrick youngster fired a superb two-iron to within six feet of the flag to set up a winning birdie three.

Earlier, Tandgragee's Stuart Paul had pulled off a great escape his battle with Douglas' Karl Bornemann, clinching a half that gave Ulster the seven-points they needed to secure overall victory.

Three down with six holes to play, Paul won the 14th and 16th with par threes to reduce the arrears before snatching a half with a fine par four at the 18th after Bornemann's second shot had finished in a difficult lie just a couple of yards off the green.

Leinster found Connacht to be a decidedly tough nut to crack before running riot in the singles to win 8-5 overall.

Trailing 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 at lunch, Gavin McNeill halved his match with Daire Loughnane before Justin Kehoe, Noel Fox, Adrian Morrow, Michael McGinley and Robert Cannon completed comfortable wins.

Although Colm Moriarty handed Gary Cullen a 5 and 4 beating and Derek McNamara edged out Michel McDermott on the 18th, Mark Campbell's two and one win over Mark O'Sullivan gave the Leinster men a 6 1/2 ­ 2 1/2 singles victory.

Ulster 9 1/2; Munster 3 1/2
Foursomes: S. Paul & A. McCormick bt D. Sugrue & M. Murphy 3 & 1; J. Foster & P. Martin bt T. Rice & M. Barrett 5 & 4; A. Morris & G. Maybin lost to K. Bornemann & J. Morris 4 & 2; M. McGeady & C. Moriarty bt P. Murray & P. Power, Ulster 3 & 2. Ulster 3; Munster 1 Singles: A. McCormick lost to T. Rice 2 & 1; J. Foster bt D. Sugrue 3 & 2; S. Paul halved with K. Bornemann; M. McGeady bt M. Murphy 3 & 2; P. Martin bt P. Murray 2 & 1; S. McMonagle bt D. Finn 3 & 2; A. Morris bt M. Barrett 2 & 1; R. Forsythe bt J. Morris 1 hole; C. Moriarty lost to P. Dooley 1 hole. Ulster 6 1/2; Munster 2 1/2.

Connacht 5; Leinster 8
Foursomes C. Moriarty & R. De Lacey Staunton lost to N. Fox & G. McNeill 1 hole; D. Mortimer & C. Waters halved with J. Kehoe & A. Morrow; K. Kearney & D. McNamara bt G. Cullen & E. O'Sullivan 5 & 4; S. McTernan & M. O'Sullivan bt M. Campbell & M. McDermott 5 &4. Connacht 2 1/2; Leinster 1 1/2 Singles: D. Loughnane halved with G. McNeill; M. Rowe lost to J. Kehoe 4 & 3; D. Mortimer lost to N. Fox 2 & 1; K. Kearney lost to A. Morrow 3 & 2; S. McTernan lost to M. McGinley 3 & 2; R. De Lacey Staunton lost to R. Cannon 3 & 2; C. Moriarty bt G. Cullen 5 & 4; M. O'Sullivan lost to M. Campbell 2 & 1; D. McNamara bt M. McDermott 1 hole. Connacht 2 1/2; Leinster 6 1/2 Today ­ ULSTER v CONNACHT; LEINSTER V MUNSTER.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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