Historic wins for Limerick, Mullingar and New Forest in AIG Ladies Cup and Shields
New Forest’s player-manager Anne Naughton (right) leads the New Forest Haka following their win in the AIG Minor Cup Final at Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort. image by Jenny Matthews/ Cashman Photography
An epic final day in the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals produced its usual share of joy and heartbreak at Knightsbrook Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.
Limerick and East Cork claimed wins for Munster golf while New Forest struck a blow for the minnows and completed a marvellous journey from zeroes to heroes in the AIG Minor Cup as neighbours Mullingar won the AIG Intermediate Cup and a first green pennant in the their 125th year.
East Cork romped to their third Challenge Cup win since 2013, defeating Tulfarris 4-1, as Limerick captured the blue riband Senior Foursomes for the first time in the club's history.
Ailish Dilger's charges beat Massereene 2-1 in a thrilling contest that was one of three finals left unfinished following Friday’s lengthy rain delay.
While Orla Barry and Cliona Finucane fell in the bottom match, a gritty one hole win by Fiona McGann and Emma Guinane over Lucy Simpson and Jennifer Parkhill set up a dramatic finish.
Emily Walsh and Heather Fitzgerald went to the 147-yard 18th all square with Lisa McMeekin and Heather Myles and claimed victory with a par-three.
While McMeekin's tee shot end up just off the left side of the green, Walsh drilled a six iron in low, and it chased up the green to around 18 ft.
Myles' approach putt came up 30 inches short, and after Fitzgerald had lagged up close and Limerick were conceded their par, McMeekin could not force the match up the 19th.
"I was so nervous," the 18-year old UCC medical student Emily explained. "I had to hit the green, so I played it imagining I was trying to hit under a tree. So I hit a punch shot even though it was over water.
"I just wanted to keep it straight and stay out of the bunker. Heather was nervous and shouting 'Go, go'. But it cleared the water and ran up to 20 feet. They left themselves a bit of a nasty one for par."
Team captain Ailish was emotional at the finish.
"It's truly fantastic, we're overcome with excitement and emotions," she said. "It all came down to the last. What a day, what a super feeling.
"I am overcome really. I have to say thank Noreen McManus, who sponsored us right from the get-go.
"I said to Heather, 'You were born for this'. She comes from a family of golfers. Her Dad (Juan) was managed the Barton Shield team last week in Westport, and she was outstanding, and the whole team was outstanding."
Fitzgerald was going double success as Limerick were also seeking revenge for that 2015 defeat to Enniscorthy on the 19th in the AIG Junior Cup final.
But history repeated itself and they lost 3-2 when Enniscorthy's Eimear McGrath beat Mary Conlon with a chip and putt par at the first tie hole to give the Wexford club their fourth win in the event since 2008.
"It literally went down to the last putt in the final match, and it went our way today," Enniscorthy captain Connie Doyle said.
"We are thrilled for Enniscorthy. We won this in 2015 here against Limerick on 19th also. We put in a lot of time and effort in for it. They would fight with their fingernails for each other."
East Cork won their third AIG Challenge Cup since 2013 by winning the first three matches comfortably in their 4-1 win over Tulfarris, and captain Anne O'Connell put it down to hard work and some inspiration from above.
"They never lost sight of the medal and it is the first pennant we got have got since our proprietor passed away," she said of her team, who were a mixture of youngsters and older ladies who have recently taken up the game.
"Maurice Moloney died in November 2015 and I remember being very angry in 2016 when I thought we had it and it got away from us.
"I think he settled up there now and looked after us this week and we got it."
East Cork GC, winners of the Challenge Cup at Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Resort during the AIG Cups and Shields. image by Jenny Matthews (www.cashmanphotography.ie)
Mullingar won the delayed AIG Intermediate Cup and the first green pennant for the ladies in the club's 125th anniversary year with a 3-2 win over Loughrea.
It all came down to Emma Duffy Kenna, who was four up with four to play but taken to the 18th by Noreen Treacy where she lagged a 45 footer dead to secure victory with an excellent par three.
"It's wonderful for Mullingar Golf Club," Emma said. "We are all so proud. They have been working towards this for years and years.
"Loughrea beat us eight years ago on the 21st so I didn't want that to happen again and said, no, we can do this. The club is 125 years old, and we have never won a national pennant, so I am so happy for the club. It's a wonderful club.”
Mullingar were seeking double success, but their AIG Junior Foursomes side fell 2-1 to Portumna when Mary McElroy and Rachel Madden beat Helen Moorehead and Marion Bate with a brilliant par four at the 19th.
"It was an absolutely titanic struggle," Portumna captain Anne Fahy said. "It all came down to Rachel Madden and Mary McElroy, and you couldn't have a better two to bring us home.
The girls got a great half down 18 to bring us down 19, and a made a tremendous par."
The day was a historic one for two tiny clubs making their first appearance in the All Ireland Finals, and there were emotional scenes as New Forest, affiliated just five years ago, won the AIG Minor Cup with a 4-1 win over Kilmashogue.
"Two years ago we hadn't enough players to field a Minor Cup team, and here we are, All-Ireland Champions," beamed Mary Fallon, Team Captain.
"It is unthinkable. In 2016 we only had 20 female members, today we have 50. They're all new members. It's a dream come true."
Rita O’Shea, the club’s first Lady Captain, had the honour of sinking the winning putt.
“My hand was shaking when I was putting the ball down to take my putt,” she said. “I haven’t won anything since volleyball and athletics at school. It’s a huge deal for the club. I was first Lady Captain and we have 50 members with nearly half of them only coming in through Get Into Golf over the last two years.
“We were affiliated in 2014 which was only five years ago. Myself, Shirley Donegan and and Deirdre O’Connor are two of the first members. It’s unreal for our club. “
AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals, Knightsbrook Hotel Spa & Golf Resort
AIG Senior Foursomes Final
Limerick 2 Massereene 1 (Limerick names first)
F McGann & E Guinane bt L Simpson & J Parkhill 1 h;
E Walsh & H Fitzgerald bt L McMeekin & H Myles 1h;
O Barry & C Finucane lost to A Kelly & N Gordon-Foster 5&3.
AIG Minor Cup Final
New Forest 4 Kilmashogue 1 (New Forest names first)
C Scally bt E McCarthy 3&1;
D O’Connor bt G Fair 2&1;
R O’Shea bt E Healy 2 hs;
S Donegan halved with M Judge;
A Naughton halved with M Gough.
AIG Intermediate Cup Final
Mullingar 3 Loughrea 2 (Mullingar names first)
B McCarrick bt C Murray 3&2;
J Hogan bt H Shaughnessy 5&3;
S Ruane lost to G Keely 3&2;
G Egan lost to T Whyte 1 h; bt N Treacy 1 h.
AIG Junior Foursomes Final
Portumna 2 Mullingar 1 (Portumna names first)
B Kilmartin & B Kelly bt R Whelehan & A Daly Glennon 3&2;
K Lynch & M Madden lost to B Carroll & J Carroll 3&2;
M McElroy & R Madden bt H Moorhead & M Bate 19th.
AIG Junior Cup Final
Limerick 2 Enniscorthy 3 (Limerick names first)
M Conlon lost to E McGrath 19th;
H Fitzgerald lost to C Hogan 2 hs;
S Conway bt M Mooney 2 hs;
A O’Mahony bt S Sinnott 5&4;
E Morris lost to N Jacob 3&2.
AIG Challenge Cup Final
East Cork 4 Tulfarris 1 (East Cork names first)
O Evans bt R Edwards 7&5;
C Goldspring bt A Finnegan 3&2;
N Kelleher bt C O’Mahony 6&4;
A O’Sullivan halved with M Solan (called-in);
L Cuddigan halved with I Masterson (called-in).
