Holders Leinster (pictured last year) drew with Ulster as Munster made a winning start in the ILGU Interprovincial Matches at Castle Dargan. Picture via ILGU.ieMunster crushed hosts Connacht 8-1 to top the table after the opening day of the ILGU Interprovincial Matches at Castle Dargan Golf Resort near Sligo.

Displaying clinical short game skills, they won all three foursomes and five of the six singles as Leinster and Ulster tied 4.5 - 4.5.

Laura McCarthy and Aoife Lowry gave Munster the perfect start winning 6 and 4 while the young partnership of Sinead Sexton and Chloe Ryan birdied the second, fourth, sixth and 10th to closedout their match on the 12th, leaving the experienced pairing of Gillian O’Leary and Sarah Cunningham, who started and finished with birdies, to defeat Connacht’s Anne McCormack and Darragh McGowan 4 and 3.

In the singles, Jean O’Driscoll survived a scare from up and coming Connacht star Shannon Burke from Ballinrobe, who levelled the match on the 17th. However, O’Driscoll holed a good par putt on the last to win the match.

Emma O’Driscoll who was rested in the morning came out strong to beat Anne McCormack 6 and 5 while Laura McCarthy, Chloe Ryan and Sinead Sexton continued to impress.

McCarthy beat Suzanne Corcoran one up as Ryan and Sexton recorded 4 and 3 wins over Ann Cassidy and Niamh Kitching respectively while Darragh McGowan’s win against Aoife Lowry gives Connacht encouragement going forward.

Leinster, meanwhile, took a one match advantage into the singles but lost the afternoon session 3.5 to 2.5.

Amy Farrell and Carla Reynolds were four under par as they beat Paula Grant and Jessica Carty 3 and 1 in the match of the day after the Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, comfortably beat Karen Delaney and Maria Dunne.

The last match was a nip and tuck affair with excellent putting from both sides Aedin Murphy and Deirdre Smith clinched a 2 and 1 win over Louise Coffey & Victoria Bradshaw.

Ulster staged a comeback in the singles against with Leona Maguire, Lisa Maguire and Paula Grant taking the top three matches and Lucy Simpson following with a half against Mary Doyle,

However, Leinster came back with both Aedin Murphy and Deirdre Smith recording crucial wins to leave the teams tied.

Leinster will face Munster on Thursday with Ulster taking on the hosts, Connacht.

 

Women’s Interprovincial Matches, Castle Dargan Golf Resort, 3-5 April 2013

Connacht 1 - 8 Munster

Foursomes

Clodagh Hopkins & Fiona Moclair lost to Laura McCarthy & Aoife Lowry 6&4

Anne McCormack & Darragh McGowan lost to Gillian O’Leary & Sarah Cunningham 4&3

Niamh Kitching & Ann Cassidy lost to Sinead Sexton & Chloe Ryan 7&6

Singles

Shannon Burke lost to Jean O’Driscoll 1up

Suzanne Corcoran lost to Laura McCarthy 1up

Anne McCormack lost to Emma O’Driscoll 6&5

Darragh McGowan beat Aoife Lowry 2&1

Ann Cassidy lost to Chloe Ryan 4&3

Niamh Kitching lost to Sinead Sexton 4&3 

Ulster 4½ - 4½ Leinster (9th tee)

Foursomes

Leona Maguire & Lisa Maguire beat Karen Delaney & Maria Dunne 5&4

Paula Grant & Jessica Carty lost to Amy Farrell & Carla Reynolds 3&1

Louise Coffey & Victoria Bradshaw lost to Aedin Murphy & Deirdre Smith 2&1

Singles

Leona Maguire beat Maria Dunne 5&3

Lisa Maguire beat Ariana Coyle Diez 2&1

Paula Grant beat Carla Reynolds 2&1

Lucy Simpson halved with Mary Doyle

Jessica Carty lost to Aedin Murphy 2&1

Louise Coffey lost to Deirdre Smith 4&3

Points Table (after day 1)

1. Munster 1
2. Ulster ½
3. Leinster ½
4. Connacht 0

Draw for Day 2 - Thursday 4th April

Leinster -v- Munster (1st tee)

09:00 Karen Delaney & Maria Dunne -v- Emma O’Driscoll & Laura McCarthy

09:10 Amy Farrell & Carla Reynolds -v- Gillian O’Leary & Sarah Cunningham

09:20 Aedin Murphy & Deirdre Smith -v- Chloe Ryan & Sinead Sexton

Ulster -v- Connacht (9th tee)

09:00 Leona Maguire & Lisa Maguire -v- Darragh McGowan & Shannon Burke

09:10 Paula Grant & Jessica Carty -v- Clodagh Hopkins & Suzanne Corcoran

09:20 Lucy Simpson & Jessica Ross -v- Fiona Moclair & Ann Cassidy