Connacht have tough opener
Connacht are again skippered by Adrian Wynne and include seven of the eight players who pulled off a famous victory 12 months ago. The Irish selectors will be particularly interested in the outcome of several singles, notably the number one clash of Connacht’s experienced Eddie McCormack and Irish-American Kevin Phelan, who has been creating a significant name for himself over the past couple of years.
Gary Hurley, West Waterford, who helped Munster to win the boys championship last year, now steps up to the senior ranks with every faith being placed in him by captain Phil Cooney. He has been paired with another newcomer, Geoff Lenehan of Portmarnock and Waterville, in the foursomes against McCormack and Barry Anderson and can also look forward to an interesting singles clash with Michael Durcan.
Given the dominant role they have been playing for some years past, Ulster will be well fancied to regain the title, even though they are without both British Amateur champion Alan Dunbar and Harry Diamond. They face Leinster, the big match the meeting of Irish Open winner Richard O’Donovan and Ulster’s Irish Close and North of Ireland champion Chris Selfridge.
In the Boys Championship, Munster take on Connacht and Ulster meet Leinster.
Mens Championship.
Connacht v Munster (Connacht names first), Foursomes (8am start): S Cannon & S Healy v K Phelan & A Thomas; E McCormack & B Anderson v G Hurley & G Lenehan; G McDermott & S O’Hara v P Murray & I O’Rourke; J Lyons & M Durcan v G O’Flaherty & N Gorey.
Singles (1 pm start) McCormack v Phelan; Durcan v Hurley; McDermott v Lenehan; Anderson v Ian O’Rourke; Stephen Healy v Murray; O’Hara v O’Flaherty; Lyons v Gorey
Leinster v Ulster (Leinster names first). Foursomes (8.36 start):R O’Donovan & P Dunne v R Whitson & H Diamond; R McNamara & B Casey v C Selfridge & M McAlpin; A Hogan & E Smith v N Grant & D McElroy; S Ward & J Hume v M Sinclair & C Campbell
Singles (1.52 start): O’Donovan v Selfridge; Dunne v Whitson; McNamara v McElroy; Casey v Diamond; Hogan v Grant; Smith v Colm ; Ward v Sinclair
Boys Interpros
Munster v Connacht (Munster names first). Foursomes (8am start): R Dawson & D Whitty v S Flanagan & A Gleeson; J Sugrue & P McCarthy v R O’Doherty & C O’Byrne; C Coyne & D Brennan v J Igoe & R Mullarney. Singles (1pm start): J Leacy v Mullarney; Dawson v Igoe; Whitty v Gleeson; Sugrue v Jonathan Doherty; McCarthy v Flanagan; Brennan v O’Byrne; Coyne v O’Doherty.
Leinster v Ulster (Leinster names first) Foursomes (8.27 start): G Moynihan & N Foley v J Ross Galbraith & T Jordan; D Foy & E Farrell v J Hood & G Lappin; P McBride & J Walsh v Wm Russell & Matthew Kane. Singles (1.49 start): A Myles v J Galbraith; Farrell v Hood; Moynihan v S Watts; Foy v Russell; Walsh v Lappin; Foley v Jordan; McBride v Kane.
