Munster beat Leinster while Connacht and Ulster halved to leave things delicately poised after the opening day of the Senior Interprovincial Championship at Co Sligo GC.
Connacht had led after the morning foursomes thanks to a birdie on the 18th in the final match from Joe Lyons, who partnered Michael Durcan to a one-hole win over Nicky Grant and Wayne Telford.
Beforehand, Ulster had scored an early win through Reeve Whitson and Aaron Kearney, who beat Steffan O'Hara and Sean Cannon by 7/6, but Connacht had squared the match with a win from Michael Durcan and Joe Lyons over Connor Doran and Harry Diamond by 2/1. Due to illness, Gary McDermott was unable to play so his match in partnership with Kelan McDonagh against Luke Lennox and Colm Campbell was deemed a half.
But things started well for Ulster in the afternoon, with Diamond getting one back on the 18th with a final-hole win over O'Hara. Victories also followed for Reeve Whitson and Connor Doran against Michael Durcan and Sean Cannon respectively, while McCormack hit back for Connacht with a 2/1 win over Irish Close runner-up Kearney.
Connacht's hopes were raised significantly when Kelan McDonagh got up and down from 20 yards over the back of the 18th green to earn a half against Luke Lennox.
The match between Grant and Lyons finished all square, leaving the pressure resting on Anderson to clinch the half for Connacht, which he did by halving the 18th for a one-hole win.
Munster, meanwhile, had the initiative after the morning's play against Leinster, with Pat Murray and Ian O’Rourke claiming a one-hole victory over Rory McNamara and Brian Casey.
That left Munster one ahead going into the afternoon. Eoin Arthurs and Richard O’Donovan halved with Gary O’Flaherty and Niall Gorey, and John Greene and Craig Martin lost to Sean Barry and David O’Donovan by 3/2.
Kieran Hurley and Ed Stack lost for Munster on the final green against Paul Dunne and Stephen Walsh, leaving the way clear for Murray and O’Rourke to put them in front going into the singles.
Niall Gorey’s victory in the first match of the afternoon against East of Ireland champion Richard O’Donovan paved the way for his team-mates, with Sean Barry clinching a half against Craig Martin and David O’Donovan beating Rory McNamara 3/1.
To their credit, Leinster rallied with a tremendous 7/6 win for Eoin Arthurs over Pat Murray, and when Paul Dunne beat Gary O’Flaherty on the 18th green, the match came down to the wire.
Munster persevered though, with Ed Stack claiming a half against Stephen Walsh and Ian O’Rourke clinching the final game on the 17th to give Munster the overall lead going into tomorrow’s second day.
In the Boys Interprovincials, Leinster produced a spectacular rally on the back nine in the afternoon singles to beat Connacht while Munster edged a very close encounter with Ulster.
Leinster had shared the foursomes with Connacht when their top pair Jack Hume and Alan Lowry beat Alex Gleeson and Sean Flanagan.
Liam Harnett and Conor Glynn lost to Enda Craddock and Dan O’Connor, while Keagan Cummings and Gavin Moynihan won the final hole of their match with Declan Reidy and Thomas Finnegan to secure a half.
In the afternoon, Enda Craddock produced a superb display to see of Liam Harnett 6/5, but thereafter it was one-way traffic, with Jack Hume beating Alex Gleeson, Conor Glynn accounting for Ronan Mullarney, Gavin Moynihan edging past Sean Flanagan, and Keagan Cummings clinching a two-hole victory over Declan Reidy.
Alan Lowry and Ross Young completed the victory for Leinster with wins over Dan O’Connor and Thomas Finnegan.
Ulster, meanwhile, had taken the upper-hand against Munster after the morning foursomes, but victories for Gary Hurley, Robin Dawson, Jack Ryan and Kieran Lynch in the afternoon saw Munster past the winning post, with Jack Leacy gaining a half against John Ross Galbraith and Colm O’Sullivan and Eoin Harris losing to William Russell and Tim Jordan respectively.
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