Ulster retain Women's Interpros; Leinster win Girls' title

The victorious Ulster Women's team celebrate after winning the Interprovincial title at Slieve Russell. L-R Ray Gregg, Ulster district Hon Sec., Paula Grant, Captain Janet Wilson, Niamh Ward, Tara Gribben, Lisa Maguire, Hannah Henderson, Chloe Weir, Jenny Young, manager. Picture: Ronan Lang

Lisa Maguire played a crucial role with a dramatic singles victory as Ulster retained the Women’s Interprovincials at Slieve Russell.

The Girls’ title went to Leinster as they tied 4-4 with the northern province on the final day to edger of Munster.

But it was also a nail-biter for the women’s title with Ulster beating Leinster 4.5-3.5 to retain their crown.

Lisa Maguire’s one up win over Rachel Taylor and Niamh Ward’s halved match with Mary Doyle proved crucial in the end.

Ulster started off like a train and won the foursomes 3-0 before hanging on in the singles.

Early Leinster wins for Meadhbh Doyle, Ciara Casey and Aedin Murphy put pressure on Ulster but Lisa Maguire staged a comeback for the defending champions against Rachel Taylor and won her match on the home green. 

It all came down to Mary Doyle and Niamh Ward’s match which was halved, resulting in an overall win for the Ulster side. 

Connacht again came out fighting on the final day against Munster and despite trailing 3-0 after the foursomes, they won 4 from 5 points in the singles. It was a 4-4 result between the two sides, meaning Connacht finished in third position. 

The victorious Leinster Girls team celebrate after winning the Girls' Interprovincial series at Slieve Russell. L-R, Captain Suzie Hayes, Elisa Corcoran, Anna Foster, Ellen O'Gorman, Eleanor Metcalfe, Georgia Carr, Clodagh & Lauren Walsh, and Danielle Colgan. Picture: Ronan Lang

In the Girls’ Championship, Leinster’s girls got off to a good start, winning two of the foursomes. 

Georgia Carr added the only win of the singles for the Leinster side but two halved matches from Lauren Walsh and Ellen O’Gorman sealed the deal for them as they edged out Munster — 8-0 winners over Connacht — by half a point

Girls' Interprovincials - Final standings (matches won)

1. Leinster 2 ½ (14½)
2. Munster 2 (15)
3. Ulster 1 ½ (13)
4. Connacht 0 (5½)

Women's Interprovincials - Final standings (matches won)

1. Ulster 2½ (14)
2. Leinster 2 (14 ½) 
3. Connacht 1 (9½)
4. Munster ½ (10)

Girls' Matches - Leinster 4 Ulster 4 (Leinster names first)
Girls Foursomes — Leinster 2 Ulster 1

1. Ellen O’Gorman & Ellie Metcalfe lost to Emma Forbes & Kate Dwyer 5&4 
2. Lauren Walsh & Clodagh Walsh beat Maeve Cummins & Beth Coulter 2&1
3. Elisa Corcoran & Anna Foster beat Anna Morwood & Olivia McClurg 5&3 

Girls Singles — Leinster 2 Ulster 3

1. Ellie Metcalfe lost to Emma Forbes 3&1
2. Lauren Walsh halved with Kate Dwyer 
3. Clodagh Walsh lost to Beth Coulter 2&1
4. Ellen O’Gorman halved with Maeve Cummins 
5. Georgia Carr beat Olivia McClurg 3&1 

Girls’ Matches — Connacht 0 Munster 8 (Connacht names first)
Girls’ Foursomes — Connacht 0 Munster 3

1. Lorna Mullally & Niamh Cronin lost to Lisa O’Shea & Aine Donegan 5&4
2. Maeve Rooney & Roisin O’Brien lost to Ciara Leonard & Aideen Walsh 4&3 
3. Chloe O’Connor & Niamh Smyth lost to Sara Byrne & Grace McGrath 1up

Girls’ Singles — Connacht 0 Munster 5

1. Maeve Rooney lost to Lisa O’Shea 5&4
2. Niamh Cronin lost to Aine Donegan 2&1 
3. Chloe O’Connor lost to Sara Byrne 3&2
4. Roisin O’Brien lost to Ciara Leonard 6&5
5. Amy Monaghan lost to Aideen Walsh 8&7

Women’s Matches — Leinster 3 ½ Ulster 4 ½ 
Women’s Foursomes — Leinster 0 Ulster 3

1. Ciara Casey & Rachel Taylor lost to Niamh Ward & Jenny Young 5&4
2. Mary Doyle & Meadhbh Doyle lost to Lisa Maguire & Paula Grant 5&3 
3. Aedin Murphy & Ariana Coyle Diez lost to Tara Gribben & Chloe Weir 3&2  

Women’s Singles — Leinster 3 ½ Ulster 1½ 

1. Meadhbh Doyle beat Paula Grant 4&3
2. Rachel Taylor lost to Lisa Maguire 1up 
3. Ciara Casey beat Tara Gribben 4&3
4. Aedin Murphy beat Chloe Weir 3&2
5. Mary Doyle halved with Niamh Ward 

Women’s Matches — Connacht 4 Munster 4 (Connacht names first)
Women’s Foursomes — Connacht 0 Munster 3

1. Hilary Hall & Maeve Kelly lost to Chloe Ryan & Sarah Cunningham 3&2
2. Clodagh Hopkins & Maureen Keane lost to Aoife Lowry & Emma O’Driscoll 2&1
3. Anne Brett & Shannon Burke lost to Tara Whelan & Paula Walsh 3&1

Women’s Singles — Connacht 4 Munster 1

1. Maureen Keane lost to Chloe Ryan 7&6
2. Noreen Maloney beat Tara Whelan 1up
3. Maeve Kelly beat Emma O’Driscoll 3&2
4. Anne Brett beat Aoife Lowry 1up
5. Shannon Burke beat Sarah Cunningham 4&3