Munster retained the Interprovincial championship at Ballybunion yesterday despite being beaten in the final engagement by Ulster. Both provinces each won twice over three days' play, but Munster took the trophy on a countback of 23 matches won as against 20 for Ulster.
Ulster, after winning all four of the foursomes, took 4 1/2 of the singles but the southern province emerged with the overall laurels in capturing 3 1/2 matches. The issue was fought out to the very last two of the singles. In these Tom Cleary (Munster) and Colin McElderry (Ulster) finished all flat and then Gary O'Flaherty for Munster beat John Foster by 2 and 1. Leinster after taking 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 of the foursomes from Connacht went on to win six of the singles with one halved to take third place. The surprise was the one hole defeat of Walker Cup player Richie Coughlan (Birr) by 22year-old David Dunne (Co Sligo). The Connacht man won by one hole.
There are three new caps on the Irish team for the home internationals at Burnham and Berrow on September 10th, 11th and 12th. They are Paddy Gribben (Warrenpoint), who has been reinstated an amateur after three years as a tour professional, Andrew McCormick (Scrabo), who was finalist in the South of Ireland championship last month, and David Dunne (Co Sligo). Richard Coughlan, Peter Lawrie and Sean Quinlivan were not available for selection. They are due to take part in the European tour preselection events.
Leinster 9, Connacht 4 - Four- somes: R Coughlan and P Lawrie bt D Dunne and D O'Flynn 4 and 3, J D Fanagan and A Morrow lost to S Horkan and M Flanagan 4 and 3, B Omelia and D Coyle bt D Mortimer and C Moriarty 6 and 5, N Fox and L Dalton halved with S McTiernan and K Flanagan; Singles: Coughlan lost to Dunne one hole, Fanagan bt Horkan 4 and 3, Lawrie bt O'Flynn 2 and 1, Fox halved with Flanagan, Omelia bt Moriarty 4 and 3, Morrow lost to Mortimer 2 holes, McGinley bt Howley 5 and 3, Browne bt McTiernan 2 and 1, Coyle bt Cunningham 4 and 2.
Ulster 8 1/2, Munster 4 1/2 - Four- somes: A McCormick and C McMonagle bt E Power and S Quinlivan 2 holes, P Gribben and R Elliott bt J Morris and P Murray 2 and 1, M Sinclair and C McElderry bt P Byrne and T Rice 2 holes, S Paul and R Leonard bt T Cleary and G O'Flaherty 4 and 3; Singles: Cribben bt Morris 3 and 2, McCormick bt Quinlivan 3 and 2, Sinclair lost to Power 1 hole, Paul bt Murray 2 and 1, A Meharg lost to Rice 3 and 2, Elliott lost to Byrne 2 and 1, McMonagle bt Goulding 1 hole, McElderry halved with Cleary, Foster lost to O'Flaherty 2 and 1.
Overall: Munster 2 pts (23 matches); Ulster 2 pts (20 matches); Leinster 1 pt (20 1/2 matches), Connacht 1 pt (14 1/2 matches). IRELAND (Home Internationals) - K Kearney (Co Sligo), G McGimpsey (Bangor), J D Fanagan (Milltown), K Nolan (Bray), B Omelia (Newlands), P Gribben (Warrenpoint), N Fox (Portmarnock), A McCormick (Scrabo), A Mor- row (Portmarnock), J Morris Jnr (Douglas), D Dunne (Co. Sligo). Non travelling reserve: E Power (Kilkenny).
