When Clara Le Blanc, 3, could not sing a nursery rhyme to her baby sister, her mother, Karen, had no doubt she had suffered a stroke.

Ulster and Leinster played out a thrilling tie on the opening day of the Interprovincial Championship at Lee Valley yesterday while defending champions Munster survived a few anxious moments in mid-afternoon to emerge 7 ½-3 ½ winners over Connacht.