GUI President Ivor McCandless presents the Senior Interprovincial Trophy to Ulster captain Aidan Doran. Also pictured: Chris Selfridge, Tiarnan McLarnon, Harry Diamond, Nicky Grant, Cormac Sharvin, Reeve Whitson, Dermot McElroy, Aaron Kearney and Shane McGee (Team Manager). Picture: Pat CashmanAfter tasting the bitterness of defeat on their home patch at Royal County Down 12 months ago, Ulster made amends on a stirring final day at Lee Valley, defeating the defending champions Munster to capture the Interprovincial Championship, writes the GUI.

As Leinster looked on knowing that a certain set of results would also give them a chance of victory, the Ulster team fended off challenge after challenge in the afternoon singles in which six of the seven matches went to the final green.

In the only singles settled inside the distance, North of Ireland champion Chris Selfridge became the only player at Lee Valley to finish with a 100 percent record as he beat Munster’s Kevin Phelan 3 and 2 in the singles for his fifth win from as many matches.

However, only Pat Murray could manage a win for Munster, while three other matches were halved and victories by Reeve Whitson over Gary Hurley, and Aaron Kearney over Gary O’Flaherty, sealed the win for Aidan Doran’s side.

Chris Selfridge (Ulster) blasting from a bunker at the 15th during the Interprovincial Matches at Lee Valley. Picture: Pat CashmanThe morning’s play between Munster and Ulster left nothing between the sides, with two matches halved and a win for either side coming from Chris Selfridge and Tiarnan McLarnon for Ulster over Gary Hurley and Kieran Lynch, and for Pat Murray and Geoff Lenehan for Munster over Nicky Grant and Aaron Kearney.

Leinster, keen to hit back following the drama of Wednesday, quickly took the lead in all four of the morning foursomes.

Victories soon followed for Paul Dunne and Jack Hume over Barry Anderson and Steffan O’Hara, and for Gavin Moynihan and Stuart Grehan over Kelan McDonagh and Stephen Brady - both matches finishing at the 15th.

Niall Gorey (Munster) playing from thr rough at the 17th during the 2013 Interprovincial Matches at Lee Valley. Picture by Pat CashmanRobbie Cannon and Brian Casey’s 2 and 1 victory over Gary McDermott and Alex Gleeson left them on the verge of a clean sweep.

But Declan Loftus and Stephen Healy hit back, overturning a one-hole deficit after 14 to win on the 17th against Rory McNamara and Richard O’Donovan.

However, Leinster were simply awesome in the singles, winning all seven matches against a shellshocked Connacht side, a result which kept the former side in with a shout of the title right to the very end.

Senior Interprovincial Championship, Lee Valley Golf Club

Place	Squad	Fixtures					Games
		Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
1st	Ulster	3	2	1	0	5	33	15	8	10	19
2nd	Leinster	3	1	2	0	4	33	19	4	10	21
3rd	Munster	3	1	1	1	3	33	14	7	12	17.5
4th	Connacht	3	0	0	3	0	33	8	1	24	8.5

Thursday 25 July

Leinster 10 Connacht 1 (Leinster names first)

Foursomes (3-1)

Robbie Cannon & Brian Casey beat Gary McDermott & Alex Gleeson 2/1

Rory McNamara & Richard O’Donovan lost to Stephen Healy & Declan Loftus 2/1

Paul Dunne & Jack Hume beat Barry Anderson & Steffan O’Hara 4/3

Gavin Moynihan & Stuart Grehan beat Kelan McDonagh & Stephen Brady 4/3

Singles (7-0)

Robbie Cannon beat Gary McDermott 3/2

Brian Casey beat Stephen Healy 5/4

Rory McNamara beat Barry Anderson 1 hole

Paul Dunne beat Alex Gleeson 4/3

Jack Hume beat Stephen Brady 1 hole

Gavin Moynihan beat Kelan McDonagh 4/3

Stuart Grehan beat Declan Loftus 5/4

 

Ulster 6½ Munster 4½ (Ulster names first)

Foursomes (2-2)

Reeve Whitson & Harry Diamond halved with Kevin Phelan & Alan Thomas

Cormac Sharvin & Dermot McElroy halved with Gary O’Flaherty & Niall Gorey

Chris Selfridge & Tiarnan McLarnon beat Gary Hurley & Kieran Lynch 1 hole

Nicky Grant & Aaron Kearney lost to Pat Murray & Geoff Lenehan 2/1

Singles (4½ - 2½)

Chris Selfridge beat Kevin Phelan 3/2

Reeve Whitson beat  Gary Hurley 2 holes

Cormac Sharvin halved with Geoff Lenehan

Dermot McElroy halved with Alan Thomas

Harry Diamond halved with Niall Gorey

Aaron Kearney beat Gary O’Flaherty 1 hole

Nicky Grant lost to Pat Murray 1 hole

Final standings

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

 

Individual Points tallies
Leinster

Name W H L Pts
Stuart Grehan 5 1 0 11pts
Paul Dunne 5 0 1 10pts
Jack Hume 5 0 1 10pts
Gavin Moynihan 4 0 2 8pts
Brian Casey 2 2 2 6pts
Rory McNamara 2 1 3 5pts
Richard O’Donovan 2 0 2 4pts
Robbie Cannon 2 0 3 4pts

Connacht

Name W H L Pts
Stephen Healy 3 0 3 6pts
Declan Loftus 2 1 3 5pts
Alex Gleeson 2 0 4 4pts
Gary McDermott 2 0 4 4pts
Barry Anderson 1 0 5 2pts
Stephen Brady 1 0 4 2pts
Kelan McDonagh 1 0 4 2pts
Steffan O’Hara 0 0 5 0pts

Ulster

Name W H L Pts
Chris Selfridge 5 0 0 10pts
Reeve Whitson 3 2 1 8pts
Cormac Sharvin 2 3 1 7pts
Tiarnan McLarnon 3 0 1 6pts
Dermot McElroy 2 2 2 6pts
Harry Diamond 2 2 2 6pts
Aaron Kearney 2 0 4 4pts
Nicky Grant 1 1 4 3pts

Munster

Name W H L Pts
Pat Murray 5 0 1 10pts
Kevin Phelan 4 1 1 9pts
Alan Thomas 3 2 1 8pts
Geoff Lenehan 3 1 2 7pts
Gary O’Flaherty 3 1 2 7pts
Niall Gorey 1 3 2 5pts
Gary Hurley 0 1 5 1pt
Kieran Lynch 0 0 3 0pts