Phelan gets Munster off to flyer

Brilliantly led from the front by Kevin Phelan, Munster got their Interprovincial Championship campaign off to the best possible start when beating holders Connacht with two matches to spare at Royal Co Down yesterday.

Phelan, who hit the headlines in 2010 by qualifying for the US Open courtesy of a final-hole eagle in the qualifying round at Hobe Sound, Florida, partnered fellow Waterford golfer Alan Thomas to a 6&5 win over Sean Cannon and Stephen Healy in the foursomes and then followed up by claiming the number one singles against fellow Irish international Eddie McCormack.

Munster held a point advantage after the foursomes and in the afternoon Phelan was joined in the winners’ enclosure by Ian O’Rourke, who defeated current international Barry Anderson on the 16th; Gary O’Flaherty, who got home at the 17th against Steffan O’Hara and Thomas, a 4&3 winner over Joe Lyons.