Reigning champions Ulster began the defence of their Women’s Interprovincials with a resounding 8 ½ to ½ victory over Connacht on day one at Slieve Russell.

Ulster won all three of the opening foursomes matches, with Katie Poots and Rebekah Gardner securing a 5&3 win over Sophie Dodd and Maeve Kelly.

Kate Dwyer and Molly O’Hara combined for 3&1 success while Judithe Allen and Amy Kelly won 1up. Shannon Burke was the only player to rescue a halve in the afternoon singles, with Poots, Gardner, Allen, O’Hara and Kelly all securing victories.

Munster beat Leinster 5 ½ to 3 ½ after a tense battle in the singles where wins for Aideen Walsh, Valerie Clancy and Mairead Martin were all crucial.

The holders in the Men’s Interprovincials also began with a big win when Leinster defeated Munster 8-3.

The teams of Evan Farrell and Eoin Murphy and Keith Egan and Adam Smith secured wins in the morning foursomes. And then Leinster won all but one of the afternoon singles, with David Reddan salvaging a point for Munster.

In the other match, Connacht won two of the morning foursomes matches with David Shiel and Aodhagan Brady linking up for the first point before Simon Walker and Cian O’Connor did likewise.

Connacht continued that form into the singles with Shiel, Luke O’Neill, O’Connor and Walker winning their matches to secure a 7-4 success. 

View the scoring here