Ulster favourites as powerful Interpro squads set for big battle in Douglas

WITH the notable exception of Niall Kearney, Ireland’s only representative in the British & Irish Walker Cup team next month, the country’s leading amateur golfers will all be in action over the next three days in the Golfsure Interprovincial Championship at Douglas.

Kearney isn’t available because he is in Portugal with the Walker Cup squad and is replaced in the Leinster side by Kilkenny’s Craig Martin. But the reigning champions still boast a powerful side that includes Robbie Cannon, the recent winner of the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch, and Cian Curley and Dara Lernihan, both members of this year’s Irish team in the European Championship.

However, Barry Reddan’s side won’t have it all their own way and if anything, Ulster probably deserve to be slight favourites. Their team is packed with outstanding young talent, most notably Paul Cutler and Alan Dunbar, winners already this year of the East of Ireland Championship and the St Andrews Links Trophy. A strong case was made for the inclusion of both men in the Walker Cup side but in the end they were left disappointed.