Irish teams head for Home Internationals with high hopes
Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) driving at the 13th tee in the final round of the 2016 Irish Girl's Open Strokeplay Championship at Roganstown. Picture by Pat Cashman
Curtis Cup stars Maria Dunne and Olivia Mehaffey will lead the way for Ireland in next week’s Ladies’ Home International Matches at Conwy Golf Club from 3-5 August.
As Killarney pair Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy team up with Julie McCarthy, Lauren Walsh, Rachel Thompson and Lurgan pair Naimh McSherry and Annabel Wilson in the Girls’ Home Internationals at the same venue, the senior players will be gunning for revenge and keen to take on recently crowned European champions England on Welsh soil.
Both the Irish girls’ and ladies teams finished second in the matches last year and both are more than capable of coming home with the trophy.
The Girls’ team is exceptional with Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh earning her first cap alongside the likes of Leinster, Ulster and Irish Girls champion McCarthy.
Annabel Wilson had a superb performance at the European Team Championships and subsequently at the Junior British Open, where she finished ninth.
Having just turned 15, she has represented Ireland on an international stage for both the girls’ and ladies and similar to McCarthy she has two Irish Girls Close Championships under her belt.
Irish Ladies Home International Team – Conwy Golf Club, 3-5 August 2016
- Maria Dunne (Skerries)
- Jessica Carty (Holywood)
- Louise Coffey (Malone)
- Paula Grant (Lisburn)
- Olivia Mahaffey (Royal County Down Ladies)
- Jessica Ross (Donaghadee)
- Sinead Sexton (Lahinch)
- 1st reserve – Chloe Ryan (Castletroy)
- Team Captain: Sinead Keane
- Team Manager: Gillian O’Leary
- Team Coach: Donal Scott
Irish Girls Home International Team – Conwy Golf Club, 3-5 August 2016
- Valerie Clancy (Killarney)
- Mairead Martin (Killarney)
- Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little)
- Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
- Rachel Thompson (Cork)
- Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)
- Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)
- 1st reserve – Lisa O’Shea (Shannon)
- Team Captain: Gemma Butler
- Team Manager: Irene Poynton
- Team Coach: Chris Jelly.
