Munster are setting their sights on a first Men\u2019s Interprovincial Championship win in eight years, with David Howard hoping victory at Knightsbrook could provide the perfect send-off before making his Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale next week.<\/p>\n
The Fota Island golfer earned his ticket to The Open Championship after coming through final qualifying at Dundonald Links, and the week since has been a whirlwind for the 27-year-old with the prospect of teeing up alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry still not fully setting in.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not after sinking in completely yet,\u201d said Howard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe odd few times I\u2019ll be chatting about it, and I say it out loud, it still doesn\u2019t really make sense, but it\u2019s starting to get there slowly but surely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before making the journey from his native Cork to the Southport venue, Howard will be a part of a strong Munster side looking to claim their first Interprovincial crown since 2018, with the then captain Michael Coote returning to lead the side to Knightsbrook once again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be good to go up there and get away from the noise, relax and get a bit of competitive golf in again before I head over,\u201d said Howard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a huge deal to be able to represent Munster for the first time a few years ago and I\u2019m still lucky to be able to represent. I haven\u2019t got a team win with them yet and it\u2019s been a few years since Munster has won, so it\u2019d be nice to get a win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howard\u00a0lines out alongside\u00a0reigning South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane (Lahinch),\u00a0while\u00a0David Reddan (Castleknock),\u00a0Morgan Cain (Fota Island),\u00a0Conor Hickey (Dooks)\u00a0and\u00a0Darragh Flynn (Carton House) return from the side that\u00a0defeated\u00a02025 champions Leinster in last year\u2019s opening match.\u00a0Mark Gazi (Tralee) also\u00a0returns to the\u00a0team\u00a0for the first time since 2023, while\u00a0Joseph O\u2019Neill (Berehaven)\u00a0is back in the\u00a0squad\u00a0having\u00a0missed out on\u00a0a place last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely have a good chance this year, and we\u2019re all going to try hard to get a win because none of us got a win in this before,\u201d said Howard.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all feeling good about the team, it\u2019s a great strong team again this year. We beat Leinster last year, so try beat them again this year, and win the other matches to get it over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Munster are looking to end Leinster\u2019s dominance, the reigning champions are chasing a fifth consecutive men\u2019s title. Victory would see them carve out their own slice of history after their great 1960s team triumphed from 1962 to 1965 before sharing first place with Munster in 1966.<\/p>\n
The Ulster Women\u2019s team will also look to create some history as they aim to retain their title for the first time in a decade. Mary MacLaren captains the side for the first time, with Aoife Browne (Massereene),\u00a0Louise Coffey (Malone), Holly Hamilton (Belvoir Park)\u00a0and\u00a0Molly O\u2019Hara (Clandeboye)\u00a0returning from last year\u2019s winning panel.\u00a0Judithe Allen (Royal Portrush)\u00a0returns to the squad for the first time since 2024, while Chloe Weir (Shandon Park) earns another call up.<\/p>\n
For Howard, the immediate focus remains firmly on helping Munster lift the trophy. Victory at Knightsbrook would not only end the province\u2019s long wait for Interprovincial success but also provide the ideal boost ahead of the biggest week of his golfing career.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d be a good start to the couple of weeks ahead,\u201d said Howard.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to get one and be part of the team, but it\u2019ll be a great week. It\u2019s an enjoyable week as well, good camaraderie among everyone, and we all know each other well, so it\u2019d be nice to enjoy it and get a win with the lads.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three-day event tees off at 8.00am Wednesday morning with a two-tee start as the Women\u2019s Championship leads the way with their foursome matches. Ulster will begin their defence against Munster while Leinster face Connacht before the Men\u2019s Championship gets underway at 8.24am, with Leinster facing Munster and Ulster taking on Connacht.<\/p>\n