Leinster slight favourites ahead of Girls' Interpros climax
Ulster’s Hannah Henderson. Picture Pat CashmanLeinster and Ulster drew 4-4 but go into the final day of the Girls’ Interprovincial Matches at Birr hoping to cruise to victory following afternoon wins over Munster and Connacht respectively.
Ulster beat Connacht 6 - 2 as Leinster defeated the defending champions Munster 4½ - 3½ to leave the matches delicately poised heading into the final day.
The morning session brought some tremendous golf with Ulster’s Irish international Chloe Weir gett her team off to a perfect start by defeating Leinster’s international Laura Doherty.
Julie McCarthy hit back for Leinster by defeating her International team mate Niamh McSherry on the home green.
With the next six matches being shared with three wins piece, both teams went into the afternoon with high hopes as Munster remained on track with a 6½ - 1½ win over Connacht
Connacht started brightly and were up in four matches during the early stages of the encounter, however Munster recovered from the set back to win six and a half points from the remaining eight matches courtesy of Caitriona Griffin, Tara Whelan, Ciara Magill Clodagh Jones, Lisa O’Shea and Mairead Martin for a convinging 6½ - 1½ win.
Connacht’s top of the order international Shannon Burke had a convincing win against Gemma McCarthy and Roisin Timothy halved her match against Paula Walsh before Munster got on top.
McCarthy made amends with a second round win over Leinster’s Julie McCarthy while her teammate Mairead Martin recorded a second impressive 6&4 winning margin and Paula Walsh won to remain unbeaten.
Tara Whelan secured a great half against Leinster’s Meadhbh Doyle with a birdie putt on 18 but the half point for Leinster was just the difference they needed to ultimately take the point against Munster.
Ulster secured a point against Connacht, despite Connacht’s Shannon Burke leading her side impressively with another win and her team mate Roisin O’Brien winning the tail of the order match.
Ulster’s mid order of Niamh McSherry, Hannah Henderson, Niamh Ward, Judithe Allen, Annabel Wilson and Claire Calvert proved strong with comfortable wins from each player.
Leinster players Laura Doherty, Ciara Casey, Rachel Taylor and Molly Dowling were all disappointed to lose their matches against Ulster but certainly made amends against Munster in the afternoon with each player winning their respective tie.
Points Table (after round 2)
- Leinster 1½ pts
- Ulster 1½ pts
- Munster 1 pt
- Connacht 0 pt
Draw for Round 3, Thursday 22nd August
Connacht -v- Leinster (1st tee)
09:30 Shannon Burke -v- Julie McCarthy
09:39 Blaithin O’Brien –v- Laura Doherty
09:48 Maeve Rooney –v- Meadhbh Doyle
09:57 Maeve Kelly –v- Ciara Casey
10:06 April Timothy –v- Rachel Taylor
10:15 Noreen Maloney –v- Molly Dowling
10:24 Roisin Timothy –v- Eleanor Metcalfe
10:33 Roisin O’Brien –v- Clodagh Walshe
Munster -v- Ulster (10th tee)
09:30 Gemma McCarthy –v- Chloe Weir
09:39 Tara Whelan –v- Niamh McSherry
09:48 Catriona Griffin –v- Hannah Henderson
09:57 Ciara Magill –v- Niamh Ward
10:06 Clodagh Jones –v- Judithe Allen
10:15 Paula Walsh –v- Annabel Wilson
10:24 Lisa O’Shea –v- Clare Calvert
10:33 Mairead Martin –v- Laura McCaw
Results for Round 2, Wednesday 21st August
Ulster 6 - 2 Connacht
Chloe Weir lost to Shannon Burke 2&1
Niamh McSherry beat Blaithin O’Brien 6&5
Hannah Henderson beat Maeve Kelly 5&4
Niamh Ward beat Maeve Rooney 4&3
Judithe Allen beat April Timothy 2up
Annabel Wilson beat Noreen Maloney 5&3
Clare Calvert beat Roisin Timothy 2up
Laura McCaw lost to Roisin O’Brien 1up
Leinster 4½ - 3½ Munster
Julie McCarthy lost to Gemma McCarthy 7&6
Laura Doherty beat Catriona Griffin 4&3
Meadhbh Doyle halved with Tara Whelan
Ciara Casey beat Ciara Magill 1up
Rachel Taylor beat Clodagh Jones 3&2
Molly Dowling beat Lisa O’Shea 3&2
Eleanor Metcalfe lost to Paula Walsh 3&2
Clodagh Walshe lost to Mairead Martin 6&4
Results for Round 1, Wednesday 21st August
Munster 6½ - 1½ Connacht
Gemma McCarthy lost to Shannon Burke 8&6
Catriona Griffin beat Blaithin O’Brien 1up
Tara Whelan beat Maeve Kelly 3&1
Ciara Magill beat Maeve Rooney 4&3
Clodagh Jones beat April Timothy 2&1
Lisa O’Shea beat Noreen Maloney 6&5
Paula Walsh halved with Roisin Timothy
Mairead Martin beat Roisin O’Brien 6&4
Leinster 4 - 4 Ulster
Laura Doherty lost to Chloe Weir 4&3
Julie McCarthy beat Niamh McSherry 1up
Meadhbh Doyle beat Hannah Henderson 3&2
Ciara Casey lost to Niamh Ward 5&4
Rachel Taylor lost to Judithe Allen 1up
Molly Dowling lost to Annabel Wilson 6&5
Eleanor Melcalfe beat Clare Calvert 4&2
Clodagh Walsh beat Laura McCaw 4&2