Mehaffey sees off combative Casey as Doyle stands firm

The Heath’s Mary Doyle remained on course to retain her Irish Women’s Close title at Rosapenna as Olivia Mehaffey continued her bid for a fourth title this season.

Doyle beat Warrenpoint’s Tara Gribben 2 and 1 in her quarter-final to set up a last four clash with Enniscrone’s Sarah Helly as Mehaffey show her class to beat an impressive Ciara Casey from the Hermitage 5 and 4.

The Royal County Down player, now 59th in the world and the winner of the Irish Under 18 as well as the Welsh and Scottish Strokeplay titles this year, beat Lahinch’s Sinead Sexton 1 up in the morning before taking advantage of Casey’s few errors after lunch.

She now faces Howth’s Laura Doherty, who overcame international Jessica Carty on the 17th while Helly secured a big win on the 21st hole over Lisburn’s Paula Grant to set up a semi-final showdown with left-hander Doyle

In the Ita Wallace Plate, former Curtis Cup and Ladies European Tour player Danielle McVeigh from Royal County Down Ladies showed her class to emerge triumphant.

She beat Portsalin’s Claire McGonagle 6 and 5 in her semi-final having built a four-hole advantage through nine to set up a clash with Castle Dargan’s Maeve Kelly who also had a substantial win in the semi-final on the 12th hole over Lurgan’s Maeve Cummins.

Danielle continued to impress in the final as she replicated her form in the morning round and turned 4 up. 

However, while a late surge by Maeve cut into Danielle’s lead, the Co Down star held her nerve to win two up and be crowned Irish Close Plate champion.

Championship Matchplay – Semi-Final Draw

• 08.30 Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) –v- Laura Doherty (Howth)
• 08.39 Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) –v- Mary Doyle (The Heath)

Championship Matchplay – Quarter-Finals

1. Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) beat Ciara Casey (Hermitage) 5&4
2. Jessica Carty (Holywood) lost to Laura Doherty (Howth) 2&1
3. Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) beat Paula Grant (Lisburn) on the 21st
4. Mary Doyle (The Heath) beat Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 2&1

Championship Matchplay – Second Round

1. Olivia Mehaffey (Royal Co. Down Ladies) beat Sinead Sexton 1up
2. Ciara Casey (Hermitage) beat Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 4&2
3. Maria Dunne (Skerries) lost to Jessica Carty (Holywood) on the 19th
4. Laura Doherty (Howth) beat Shannen Brown (The Heath) on the 21st
5. Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) beat Gillian O’Leary (The Island) 4&3
6. Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) lost to Paula Grant (Lisburn) 4&3
7. Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) lost to Mary Doyle (The Heath) 1 down 
8. Louise Coffey (Malone) lost to Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 6&5

Championship Matchplay – First Round

1. Olivia Mehaffey (RCD Ladies) beat Barbara Cooney (Laytown & Bettystown) 5&4
2. Sinead Sexton (Lahinch) beat Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) 7&5
3. Ciara Casey (Hermitage) beat Jean O'Driscoll (Muskerry) 1up
4. Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) lost to Meadhbh Doyle (Portarlington) 5&4
5. Maria Dunne (Skerries) beat Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 3&2 
6. Jessica Carty (Holywood) beat Karen  Delaney (Carlow)  6&5   
7. Mary Dowling (New Ross) lost to Laura Doherty (Howth)  6&5
8. Niamh Ward (Lurgan) lost to Shannen Brown (The Heath) 5&3
9. Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) beat Fiona Farrell (Skerries) 3&2
10. Gillian O'Leary (The Island) beat Jessica Ross (Donaghadee) 3&2    
11. Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) beat Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 3&2   
12. Paula Grant (Lisburn) beat Roisin Brady (Co. Louth)  2&1
13. Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) beat Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) 7&6    
14. Mary Doyle (The Heath) beat Sophie Harrison (Killeen Castle) on the 19th 
15. Louise Coffey (Malone) beat Victoria Craig (Royal Belfast) 2&1   
16. Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) beat Katie Aherne (Waterford Castle) 2up

Plate Final

• Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) beat Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) 2up

Plate Semi-Final

• Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) lost to Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) 6&5
• Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) lost to Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) 7&6

Plate Matchplay – Quater-Finals

1. Elisa Corcoran (Grange) lost to Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) on the 19th  
2. Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) lost to Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) 2&1
3. Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) beat Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 3&1 
4. Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) beat Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle) 2&1

Plate Matchplay – Round One

1. Elisa Corcoran (Grange) beat Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 4&3
2. Claire McGonagle (Portsalon) beat Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 3&2
3. Jenny Sykes (Dun Laoghaire) beat Noreen Maloney (Oughterard) 1up
4. Danielle McVeigh (RCD Ladies) beat Catherine McCanny (City of Derry) 19th hole
5. Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) beat Rachel Thompson (Cork) 6&4
6. Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) beat Sara Byrne (Douglas) 3&2
7. Maeve Kelly (Castle Dargan) beat Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) 2&1
8. Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) lost to Deborah McCooke (Galgorm Castle) 20th hole