Munster target title defence at Knightsbrook

The victorious Munster team, winners of the Women's Interprovincial Championships 2024 at Slieve Russell Golf Club. Photo: Golffile | Thos Caffrey

Munster Women’s Team captain Mary Dowling (Mallow) is hoping her side can secure consecutive titles this week as the Men’s and Women’s Interprovincial Championships get underway at Knightsbrook Golf Club tomorrow morning.

Under the guidance of Dowling and team manager Sinead Enright (Macroom), the province ended a five year wait for glory in 2024, claiming just their ninth win in the event’s 61-year history. Now, the side are aiming to repeat the feat last achieved by a Munster Women’s team in 2002 and 2003.

“Back in the 2000s, Munster won it two years in a row so that is their whole thing now, that we have to do as good as that team, that we have to go for two in a row,” said Dowling.

“They are full of confidence and anticipation.”

Five players from last year’s winning side return, including current Bridgestone Women’s Order of Merit leader Aideen Walsh (Lahinch), Valerie Clancy (Killarney), Mairead Martin (Kanturk), Clodagh Coughlan (Douglas) and Caitlin Shippam (Ballykisteen).

Douglas pair Karen O’Neill and Aoife Ní Thuama also return to the fold, having last featured in 2023 and 2022 respectively, adding further experience to a tight-knit group.

“There’s a great bond,” said Dowling.

“We have Cork, Clare and Waterford so there was a lot of slagging now between the Banner and the Déise and the Rebels. I think now of the seven, five are Cork and we have one from Limerick and one from Clare.”

Having enjoyed interprovincial success as both a player and captain, Dowling understands that the finest of margins can decide the championship but knows that another victory would be especially meaningful.

“It would be amazing, it really would. Munster has won it so little over the years, it would be very special. The main thing really is that they just put up a good performance, and I know they will,” said Dowling.

“There are great golfers on all the teams, and it comes down to very small margins at the end of it, but we'd be hoping.”

Another team looking to make history are the Leinster Men’s side, who are chasing a fourth title in a row, an achievement that would match their great 1960s team who triumphed from 1962 to 1965.

Harry McAlinden (Bray) captains the side for a fourth time and will look to a strong line up which includes West of Ireland champion Dylan Holmes (Greystones), Munster Stroke Play runner-up Eoin Murphy (Dundalk), East of Ireland runner-up Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire), Paul Coughlan (Castleknock) and Keith Egan (Carton House) as they bid to defend their crown once more.

The three-day event tees off at 8.00am Wednesday morning with a two-tee start as the Women’s Championship leads the way with their foursome matches. Munster will begin their defence against Connacht while Ulster face Leinster before the Men’s Championship gets underway at 8.24am, with Leinster facing Munster and Ulster taking on Connacht.

View tee times and scoring here