McMullen survives fright to reach Senior Women’s Close semis

Laura Webb. Picture: Pat Cashman

Gertie McMullen survived a round one fright to keep her defence of the Irish Senior Women’s Close at Birr.

The international from The Island was three down to Mallow’s Mary Dowling after nine holes of their first round before a chip-in on the 17th and a birdie at the last helped the leading qualifier secure a one up win.

She then overcame Donabate’s Pat Doran one up to set up a semi-final clash with Ballybunion’s Margaret McAuliffe who beat Portumna’s Suzanne Corcoran 3 and 1 and Laytown & Bettystown Carol Wickham one uo.

Headfort’s Maria O’Reilly will face East Berkshire’s Laura Webb in the other semi-final following wins over Fiona Corbett and Mary Sheehy, who had a hole in one on the second as she overcome Corrstown’s Ruth Maguire by one hole in the morning.

Webb had a 6 and 4 win over City of Derry’s Vivienne Houston before beating Killiney’s Emer Kirwan 3 and 1 to reach the last four.

In the plate Kate Evans (Royal Co. Down Ladies) will meet The Heath’s Catherine Reilly in Friday morning’s semi-finals with defending plate champion, Catherine Bird (Nenagh) facing tough competition in Grange’s Sheena McElroy.

Championship — Semi-finals

• 08:50 Gertie McMullen (The Island) v Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion)
• 09:00 Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) v Laura Webb (East Berkshire)

Championship — Quarter-finals

1. Gertie McMullen (The Island) bt Pat Doran (Donabate) 1up
2. Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) lost to Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) 1up
3. Mary Sheehy (Tralee) lost to Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) 5&4
4. Laura Webb (East Berkshire) bt Emer Kirwan (Kiliney) 3&1

Championship — First round

1. Gertie McMullen (The Island) bt Mary Dowling (Mallow) 1up
2. Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) lost to Pat Doran (Donabate) 5&4
3. Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 3&2
4. Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) lost to Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) 3&1
5. Mary Sheehy (Tralee) bt Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 1up
6. Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) bt Fiona Corbett (Castletroy) 4&3
7. Laura Webb (East Berkshire) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 6&5
8. Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) lost to Emer Kirwan (Kiliney) 5&4

Plate — Semi-Finals

• 08:30 Kate Evans (Royal Co. Down Ladies) v Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
• 08:40 Catherine Bird (Nenagh) v Sheena Mc Elroy (Grange)

Plate — Quarter-Finals

1. Kate Evans (Royal Co. Down Ladies) bt Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer) 3&2
2. Mary Duane (Hermitage) lost to Catherine Reilly (The Heath) 5&3
3. Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) lost to Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 4&3
4. Sheena Mc Elroy (Grange) bt Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 2&1

Plate — First round

1. Kate Evans (Royal Co. Down Ladies) bt Rita O'Neill (Callan) 7&5 
2. Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) lost to Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer) 6&5 
3. Mary Duane (Hermitage) bt Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) 4&2 
4. Catherine Reilly (The Heath) bt Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 5&4 
5. Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) bt Siobhan McGrath (Athlone) 1up
6. Paula Murray (Naas) lost to Catherine Bird (Nenagh) 3&2 
7. Sheena Mc Elroy (Grange) bt Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam) 8&7
8. Margaret Hayes (Tralee) bt Fiona Glass (Ballycastle) 1up.