Ulster pip Leinster for Girls' Interpros
Ulster edged out Leinster for the Girls’ Interprovincial title by two match points after they finished tied 2½-2½ at glorious Birr Golf Club.
Tied on 1½ points going into the final round, Ulster knew a convincing win over reigning champions Munster could see them take the title unless Leinster achieved a whitewash win against Connacht.
And that’s exactly what happened - Leinster beat Connacht 2½ - 5½ but Ulster crushed Munster 6-2 to win the title by virtue of their greater number of match points won - 16-14.
Connacht’s Shannon Burke helped Ulster’s cause when she competed an impressive performance in the series by defeating Leinster’s Julie McCarthy 2 and 1 to win all three of her top of the order matches.
April Timothy then Came from behind to halve her match against Rachel Taylor and Roisin O’Brien went on to win her second match for Connacht to add to Leinsters woes.
Ulster had too much strength in depth in the end and their mid-order players impressed throughout the week with Niamh Ward, Judithe Allen and Annabel Wilson winning all of their matches.
When Chloe Weir, Niamh McSherry and Hannah Henderson gave Ulster an early three-match advantage, the mid -rder duly obliged and earned the title for Ulster despite Munster’s Lisa O’Shea and Mairead Martin winning the last two matches.
Martin impressed for Munster with impressive clean sweep of wins over the three match series.
Final Points Table
- Ulster 2½ pts (16 matches won)
- Leinster 2½ pts (14 matches won)
- Munster 1 pt
- Connacht 0 pt
Results for Round 3, Thursday 22nd August
Connacht 2½ - 5½ Leinster
Shannon Burke beat Julie McCarthy 2&1
Blaithin O’Brien lost to Laura Doherty 7&6
Maeve Rooney lost to Meadhbh Doyle 4&2
Maeve Kelly lost to Ciara Casey 2&1
April Timothy halved with Rachel Taylor
Noreen Maloney lost to Molly Dowling 5&4
Roisin Timothy lost to Eleanor Metcalfe 7&5
Roisin O’Brien beat Clodagh Walshe 1up
Munster 2 - 6 Ulster
Gemma McCarthy lost to Chloe Weir 4&3
Tara Whelan lost to Niamh McSherry 1up
Catriona Griffin lost to Hannah Henderson 3&2
Ciara Magill lost to Niamh Ward 3&2
Clodagh Jones lost to Judithe Allen 2&1
Paula Walsh lost to Annabel Wilson 2&1
Lisa O’Shea beat Clare Calvert 4&3
Mairead Martin beat Laura McCaw 3&1