The victorious Munster Senior Interprovincial team
25 July 2012
Munster Men and Leinster Boys triumphant
Munster were crowned Senior Interprovincial champions on a day of high drama at Royal Co Down, thanks in no small part to three crucial singles victories on the final green against Ulster.
The home province were the favourites for the title after coasting to impressive wins over Leinster and Connacht, but it was the Munster men who got the best of them.
Munster took a 3-1 advantage into the afternoon singles against Ulster, but Reeve Whitson's early 5/3 victory over Niall Gorey gave Ulster some hope.
However, Gary Hurley and Geoff Lenehan both clinched their games on the 18th against Harry Diamond and Dermot McElroy respectively.
In between those successes, Kevin Phelan also won a tight match against Chris Selfridge, triumphing on the 17th green.
That was enough for the Munster men, and victories by Michael Sinclair and Nicky Grant could not stem the tide for Ulster.
Gary O'Flaherty beat Colm Campbell on the 18th green to put the icing on the cake for his captain, Phil Cooney.
In the other match in the Senior Interprovincials, Leinster pressed home an early 3-1 foursomes advantage, taking five points out of seven from the singles to beat Connacht 8-3.
For results for the Senior Interprovincial Championship results and draws, click here.
Meanwhile, Leinster clinched the Boys Interprovincials on an exciting day of twists and turns.
After taking a 2-1 lead over Munster in the foursomes, they found themselves trailing in five of the seven afternoon singles in the early stages.
Ulster, their nearest rivals going into the final day's play, looked to profit from this after taking a two-point lead into the singles, and in the early stages looked on course to take the title.
However, Evan Farrell, Niall Foley and Jack Walsh fought back to square their matches from behind, and although Gavin Moynihan could not get the better of James Sugrue - the latter winning on the final green - Paul McBride's 6/5 victory over Daniel Brennan gave Leinster the platform they needed.
They ran out 6-4 winners in the end, with David Foy finishing level against Jack Leacy and Alec Myles overturning a three-hole deficit at the turn to win by 2/1.
It meant that Ulster, who beat Connacht by 6.5-3.5, were left in second place, with Munster in third.
For results for the Boys Interprovincial Championship results and draws, click here.
The victorious Leinster Boys Interprovincial team.