Royal Portrush, Portumna and Ballinrobe crowned AIG All-Ireland champions

The Royal Portrush Senior Foursomes team (from left) Helen Jones, Vivienne Houston, Shauna Park, Heidi Simpson, Carol Corrigan and Naoimh Quigg after their victory on the 19th green in the  AIG Senior Foursomes Final at Dundalk Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

Royal Portrush captured the AIG Senior Foursomes for the first time with a 2-1 win over East Cork on a thrilling day in the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields National Finals at Dundalk.

East Cork were in pole position through the turn, enjoying 1 up, 2 up and 1 up leads in all three matches before going 1-0 up when Grace McGrath and Sarah O’Brien held their nerve in the top match and secured a 1 up victory over Helen Jones and Heidi Simpson.

But Royal Portrush were not to be denied and the game changed in the final few holes as former Girls international Naoimh Quigg and partner Carol Corrigan took Lillian Harrington and Deirdre Ryant the 19th.

There, Quigg stitched her chip, guaranteeing a five for the win after an unfortunate three putt from East Cork.

The final match also went down the 19th and the Royal Portrush pairing triumphed again, with Vivienne Houston and Shauna Park securing the vital point against Deirdre O’Mahony and Mairead Ní Mhurchu

Elated Royal Portrush manager, the former international Helen Jones said: “I am so proud of the team, it’s a first for the club. Being part of this team means so much.”  

Senior Foursomes

Final — East Cork 1 Royal Portrush 2

1. Grace McGrath & Sarah O'Brien (14) beat Helen Jones & Heidi Simpson (14) 1up
2. Lillian Harrington & Deirdre Ryan (16) lost to Naoimh Quigg & Carol Corrigan (15) on the 19th 
3. Deirdre O’Mahony & Mairead Ní Mhurchu (18) lost to Vivienne Houston & Shauna Park (16) on the 19th

Mary McElroy (Lady Captain, Portumna Golf Club) with Anne Fahy (Team Captain) after Portumna's victory in the  AIG Intermediate Cup Final at Dundalk. Also in the picture are Mary Kelly, Riona Holohan, Sinead Lohan, Kathleen Lynch, Carmel Cunningham and Brid Kelly. Picture by Pat Cashman

Portumna cruise to Intermediate Cup victory

Wicklow didn’t get a look in against Portumna in the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Intermediate Cup final.

Portumna’s Kathleen Lynch got the day off to a great start, having secured a 6&4 win. Carmel Cunningham replicated this win for the Galway team as she also closed out her match on the 14th.

Tears of Joy. Sinead Lohan (Portumna) after winning her match and the AIG Intermediate Cup on the 18th green at Dundalk Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

With one point left to secure for the AIG All-Ireland title, Sinead Lohan stepped up to the plate as she approached the 18th 1 up.

She hit a perfect drive and approach shot and finished with a stunning par, and as the middle and bottom matches were called in, the celebrations ensued for Portumna.

AIG Intermediate Cup Final

Wicklow 1 Portumna 4

1. Niamh Murphy (14) lost to Sinead Lohan (15) 2 down
2. Doreen McGettigan (16) lost to Kathleen Lynch (16) 6&4
3. Trish Shannon (17) halved with Mary Kelly (17) (called in)
4. Una Doyle (17) lost to Carmel Cunningham (18) 6&4
5. Katie Roche (18) halved with Mary McElroy (21) (called in)

Portumna's Sinead Lohan (centre) celebrates with her caddie Mary Conwell and her father Padraig after winning her match and the AIG Intermediate Cup on the 18th green in the  AIG Ladies Cups & Shields at Dundalk. Picture by Pat Cashman

Minor Cup for magnificent Ballinrobe

Ballinrobe racked up an impressive victory for the club with a 4-1 win over County Armagh in the AIG Minor Cup final.

Maria Burke recorded an outstanding 8 and 7 win over Katherine Steenson that set the tone for the matches to follow.

Louise Cribbin played flawless golf to secure a 5 and 3 win and not long after that, Eileen Byrne added the essential point on the 13th hole.

With the middle and final matches called in, Ballinrobe were left to celebrate a famous win.

Breege Costello (Ballinrobe) with her caddie Helen Healy celebrate victory in the in the  AIG Minor Cup Final at Dundalk Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

AIG Minor Cup — Final

Co. Armagh 1 Ballinrobe 4

1. Katherine Steenson (21) lost to Maria Burke (22) 8&7
2. Eileen Fitzsimons (22) lost to Louise Cribbin (23) 5&3
3. Vera Ellingham (24) halved with Joanne Hynes (23) (called in)
4. Anne McDonald (25) lost to Eileen Byrne (24) 7&5
5. Elizabeth Mawhinney (26) halved with Breege Costello (26) (called in)

Ballinrobe, 2016 AIG Minor Cup All Ireland champions. Picture by Pat Cashman

Castletroy to face Castle for Junior Cup

Castletroy and Castle will meet in Saturday's AIG Junior Cup final.

The Limerick club beat Wexford 4-1 with Fiona Corbett and Leonie Campbell grabbing early wins before Sarah Vaughan clinched the winning point and the other matches were called in

Castle Golf Club beat Roscommon 4-1 as Aly Doyle recorded a 2&1 win and Amy Jones, whose putter was on fire, made it look easy as she secured a 7&5 result for her team.

The third point came from Ger Moran in the fourth match, as she finished on the 14th, with a 6&4 win.

Amy Jones’s Mother, Martha was called in, as was Deirdre Hoey in the middle match. A ‘Castle’ battle looms tomorrow for the final.

AIG Junior Cup

Semi-Finals - 23 September 

Wexford 1 Castletroy 4 

1. Rachel O'Connor (7) lost to Fiona Corett (8) 3&2 
2. Carmel Murphy (8) lost to Leonie Campbell (8) 4&3
3. Sheila Richardson (9) havled with Ethna Leonard (8) (called in) 
4. Margaret Atkinson (10) lost to Sarah Vaughan (9) 2&1 
5. Irene Bolger (11) halved with Eimear Costelloe (10) (called in)

Roscommon 1 Castle 4

1. Paula Keane (10) lost to Aly Doyle (7) 4&2 
2. Mary Lalor (12) lost to Amy Jones (8) 7&5
3. Joan O'Gara (13) halved with Deirdre Hoey (8) (called in) 
4. Marie McManus (14) lost to Ger Moran (10) 6&4
5. Paula Connaughton (16) halved with Martha Jones (12) (called in)

• Junior Cup Final - Saturday, 24 September
• 10:40 Castletroy V Castl 

Ballybunion to meet Headfort in AIG Challenge Cup Final

Ballybunion beat Co. Armagh 3.5-1.5 to reach the Challenge Cup final with Margaret McAuliffe, Dori Cotter and Tess Noonan securing wins.

After sailing through the quarter-final yesterday against Co. Sligo, Headfort once again showed their determination against Wexford with wins for Oonagh Clarke, Susan Reilly and Ita Cribbin booking them a place in the final

AIG Challenge Cup

Semi-Finals - 23 September

Co. Armagh 1 ½ Ballybunion 3½ 

1. Anne O'Reilly (28) beat Mary Hickey Keane (28) 6&4
2. Jacqueline Kelly (29) lost to Margaret McAuliffe (28) 3&2
3. Eilish Grimes (30) halved with Elva Clancy (30) (called in)
4. Sheila Stinson (30) lost to Dori Cotter (33) 3&2
5. Sylvia Ashe (31) lost to Tess Noonan (34) 3&2

Headfort 3 ½ Wexford 1½

1. Oonagh Clarke (27) beat Mary Walsh (27) 2&1
2. Susan Reilly (28) beat Mary Fallon (28) 4&3
3. Mary Bowler (30) lost to Deirdre Greer (30) 3&2
4. Ita Cribbin (31) beat Pat Flanagan (31) 4&3
5. Helen Stafford (33) halved with Bernie Power (32) (called in)

• Challenge Cup Final, Saturday 24 September 
• 11:30 Ballybunion V Headfort 

Castlebar to clash with Tramore for Junior Foursomes title

Hard work and dedication payed off for Castlebar in the semi-final of the Junior Foursomes. The lucky Carlingford heather worked a treat for the Castlebar team also, as they prepare for the final first thing in the morning.

No matches made it past the 14th hole, as the top game was taken by the East Leinster side 5&4, however the middle and final games were won by Castlebar 6&4 and 5&4, respectively.

Cahir Park were favourites in the second semi-final against Tramore but it wasn’t to be for the Tipperary Team.

Bernadette Carroll and Michelle Keating impressed for Cahir Park as they secured a 4&3 win and things looked bright early in the day.

Tramore took charge of the final match and won on the 13th, 6&5. All eyes turned to the penultimate middle game and Cahir Park were up for the majority of the match before the tides turned and Tramore won three holes in a row. 

Tramore’s Sarah Howard and Lucia Ahern O’Flaherty kept their cool and secured the 2 up win. Tramore will take on Castlebar tomorrow.

Junior Foursomes

Semi-Finals - 23 September

Castlebar 2 Stackstown 1

1. Derval Molloy & Margaret Tighe (34) lost to Anne O'Connor & Jean Constant (35) 5&4 
2. Ann Gallagher & Marian Martyn (36) beat Veronica Clarke & Rebecca Rush (37) 6&4 
3. Breda Gilvarry & Regina Kerr (37) beat Avila Mairtin & Joan Moore (43) 5&4

Tramore 2 Cahir Park 1

1. Collette Palmer & Mia Maughan (36) lost to Bernadette Carroll & Michelle Keating (35) 4&3
2. Sarah Howard & Lucia Ahern O'Flaherty (37) beat Catherine Costigan & Chris Noonan (39) 2 up
3. Rachel Mulcahy & Mary Cantwell (39) beat Yvonne Morrisson & Patricia Browne (39) 6&5

• Junior Foursomes Final - Saturday, 24 September 
• 10:00 Castlebar V Tramor