AIG Challenge Cup glory for Fintona at Shandon Park
Catriona Donnelly (Fintona) wins her game and Fintona win the AIG Challenge Cup All Ireland Final 2021, Shandon Park Golf Club, Belfast, Co.Antrim, Ireland. 09/09/2021 Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
Fintona captured the AIG Women’s Challenge Cup after a dramatic day at Shandon Park in Belfast.
Despite going out in the top match, both Fintona’s Catriona Donnelly and Gort’s Anne Connolly had chances to win the Final for their teams.
Connolly won the 16th and 17th holes, and had a putt on the 18th to win, but an excellent approach shot from Donnelly on the 19th hole proved the difference, winning on the first extra hole.
“I was told coming up the 18th about how the matches were going. When I knew it was riding on our match, the nerves kicked in”, Donnelly said after the win.
“When I came down the 19th, and played my third really well, I knew I had a chance to win. It’s a great feeling.
“We’re a small club. There is a wonderful team spirit among the women in the club, but realistically we only have 40 to 50 who play on a weekly basis, and even less who could play at a match level. I was honoured to be asked to play in the team.
“It’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve met, and played against some magnificent women along the way. Shandon Park was a great course to play on.”
Saturday is the final day of AIG Cups and Shield Finals in Belfast, with three competitions down for decision. Dun Laoghaire play Kinsale in the AIG Women’s Junior Foursomes Final.
The Semi-Finals and Finals of the AIG Men’s Barton Shield and the AIG Women’s Senior Foursomes will also conclude, after both competitions saw the Quarter-Finals take place on Friday afternoon.
In the Barton Shield, The Island beat Royal Portrush by eight holes and will face Elm Park, who were 1 hole winners over Donaghadee.
The winners will face Portumna, who beat Dingargan by one hole, or Moate, who defeat Castletroy by two holes.
In the AIG Women’s Senior Foursomes, Headfort beat Portrush 2-1 to set up a semi-final clash with Dun Laoghaire, who defeated Shandon Park 2-1.
The winners wlll play Roscommon, who beat Tipperary 2-1, or Limerick, 2-1 winners over Naas.
AIG Women’s Challenge Cup Final
Fintona 3.5-1.5 Gort
Catriona Donnelly beat Anne Connolly 19th hole
Jo McNelis beat Susan Madden 3&2
Angela Montague lost to Patricia Skehill 8&6
Fanchea Donnelly halved with Phil Mulkerrins
Carmel Colgan beat Margaret Whelan 3&2
AIG Women’s Junior Foursomes Semi-Finals
Clontarf 1-2 Dun Laoghaire
Orla Fetherston and Jennifer White lost to Lillian O’Brien and Liz Murphy 2&1
Marianne Considine and Hannah O’Neill lost to Fiona Quinn and Marie Edwards 7&6
Fionnuala Forde and Niamh Brown beat Niamh McCarthy and Liz Hogan 5&3
Kinsale 2.5-0.5 Tralee
Niamh Mason and Helena O’Sullivan beat Maria O’Connor and Marie McGrath 6&5
Orla Buckley and Paula Goggins beat Kathleen Ginnegan and Brid Halloran 3&2
Carol Deeney and Cathy McGuinness halved Laura Rafferty and Sharon Ormonde
AIG Men’s Barton Shield Quarter-Finals
Royal Portrush lost to The Island
Paul Cutler and Matthew McAlpin lost to Joseph Hanney and Fergal Kennedy 4 holes
Andrew Morris and Richard McCrudden lost to Jack Blake and Kevin LeBlanc 4 holes
Donaghadee lost to Elm Park
Andrew Clegg and Garth J. Boyd beat Aidan Claffey and Richard Tighe 2 holes
Neill Boyd and Wayne McCully lost to John Cleary and James Kelly 3 holes
Portumna beat Dungarvan
James McLaughlin and Damien Burke halved with Jake O’Riordan and Jack Alton
Billy McGarry and Adrian Gogan beat Kevin Stack and James O’Meara 1 hole
Moate beat Castletroy
Jamal Sabir and Jamie Colgan beat David Reddan and Sean Murnagh 2 holes
Oliver Grogan and Adrian Hiney halved with Andrew McCormack and Dean McMahon
AIG Women’s Senior Foursomes Quarter-Finals
Royal Portrush 1-2 Headfort
Naoimh Quigg and Olivia Currie lost to Orla Foley and Orla O’Rorke 2 holes
Jodithe Allen and Siobhan McHugh lost to Maria O’Reilly and Patricia Black 5&4
Vivienne Houstin and Kayleigh Mulholland beat Pauline Walsh and Clare Martyn 3&2
Shandon Park 1-2 Dun Laoghaire
Helen McCarthy and Paula Bleakley beat Fionnuala Halpin and Aoife Quinn 4&3
Chloe Weir and Karen M. Simpson lost to Jenny Sykes and Anette Boland 2&1
Emma Leslie and Paula Irvine lost to Caroline Hewitt and Laura Ryan 2&1
Roscommon 2-1 Tipperary
Olivia Costello and Orla Quinn beat Lauren Kelly and Yvonne Ryan Daly 4&3
Paula Quinn and Rosemary O’Brien lost to Aoife Lowry and Anette Boland 3&2
Sinead Benedetti and Anne Timothy beat Shannon Hegarty and Katherine Morrissey 3&2
Naas 1-2 Limerick
Suzanne Hayes and Isobel Gorey lost to Emily Walsh and Siobhan Conway 4&2
Sarah Crowe and Kate Holmes lost to Orla Barry and Alix Fitzgerald 1 hole
Anne McCormack and Patricia Cronin beat Fiona McGann and Ann O’Mahony 4&3