Holders Leinster began the defence of their schools interprovincial crown with a slender win over Munster at Templeville Road yesterday. Leinster was never behind in this engaging contest despite Munster's efforts to win it up front in the second half.

Leinster, who had tries from Michael Quinn and James Sherlock, led 8-3 at half-time. But Munster fought back in the second half and cut the deficit to just two points with a Gerald Hegarty try and a Graham Kearns conversion but Leinster held out for victory in a tense final ten minutes.

Scorers: Leinster M Quinn, J Sherlock try each, C Keane pen, con Munster: G Hegarty Try, G Kearns 2 pens, con

LEINSTER: J O'Malley (St Columba's); D Ffrench (Mount Temple), D Hurley (St Patricks Classical School), J Lowe (Newpark), M Quinn (St Columba's); C Keane (Skerries CC), R Maybury (Mount Temple); E Byrne (Skerries CC), M Finglas (Mount Temple, capt), S Scott (St Columba's), I Elliott (St Conleth's), D Lee (Skerries CC), T O'Mahoney (Mount Temple), R Lundberg (Newpark), J Sherlock (Skerries CC) Replacements: A Wildes (St David's) for Lundberg 50 mins, N Leonard (Mount Temple) for Scott 58 mins.

MUNSTER: G Kearns (Glenstal Abbey); J Martin (Scoil Mhuire & Ide, Newcastle West), M Hally (Glenstal Abbey), K Donovan (Colaiste Muirre, Crosshaven), D Jones (St Clement's, Limerick); A O'Brien (Midleton), R Lester (Bandon Grammar); B Curtin (Midleton), T Nix (St Nessan's LImerick, Capt), O O'Grady (St Nessans), R Moore (Midleton), C Bowe (Waterpark), J Hayes (Glenstal Abbey), P Morris (Midleton), G Hegarty (Bandon). Replacements: J Devaney for Donovan 55 mins, S Roycroft for Nix 60 mins.

Referee: R Doyle (A.R.L.B)