Portumna became the first Connacht team to claim the Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy with a 4-1 win over Leinster champions Donabate at Woodenbridge.

The Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy tournament is an all-Ireland senior club championship for women over 60 years of age, similar to the successful JB Carr Diamond Trophy for men over 60.

The tournament was run over six months to provincial level, with teams from the four provinces playing in the semi-finals and finals hosted by Woodenbridge Golf Club on the second week in September. 

Ladies golf clubs from across Ireland were invited to participate in the Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy Tournament for 2022 and 83 teams played out their provinces between April and September.

The format for the tournament is Scotch Foursomes Matchplay with each participating club selecting ten lady members over the age of 60.

Portumna and Donabate were joined at the Co Wicklow parkland by Munster champions Cahir Park and Ulster champions Banbridge as the event returned after a two-year break following the pandemic.

The third-place playoff resulted in a win for Cahir Park over Banbridge and a very high standard of golf was on display over the two days from all four teams despite the difficult conditions on Sunday. 

Mary McKenna attended the matches all weekend and all the ladies were thrilled and honoured to be in her company.

The finale of the event was a gala dinner where Woodenbridge Golf Club hosted all four teams and the sponsors — Nurse On Call, Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge and Glenhaven & Cassidy Wines.

The four teams celebrated having a lovely evening and many new friendships were forged over the weekend.   

Woodenbridge Golf Club thanked all the participants and sponsors for making the sixth Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy event such a success. 

Prizes and sponsorship for the event were generously provided by Nurse On Call, Woodenbridge Hotel & Lodge, Glenhaven and Cassidy Wines.

Lady Captain of Woodenbridge Golf Club, Marie Hegarty, commented: “The members of Woodenbridge Golf Club are very proud to host this prestigious event in the golfing calendar.  One of the unique features of this competition is that it brings together golf clubs and ladies from all four corners of the country that might not ordinarily meet in a fun and very sociable golf tournament.

The Lady Captain added: “We were absolutely delighted with the response from all 32 counties this year and would like to thank Mary McKenna MBE who has kindly given her name to this prestigious tournament,  which is growing steadily and is offering highly competitive golf for Ladies over 60 throughout the country.”

Mary McKenna Diamond Trophy, Woodenbridge GC

Final

Portumna (Connacht) beat Donabate GC (Leinster)  4-1

• Suzanne Corcoran (4) & Catherine Fahy (36) Portumna bt Patricia Morris (17) & Martina McGrath  (18) Donabate 1 UP

• Anne Frawley (18) & Georgina Chambers (27) Portumna bt Cathy Fay (14), Bernadette Sweeney (29) Donabate 1 Up

• Vera Smith (13) & Loretta O’Grady (29) Portumna bt Mary Noonan (15) Eileen Gillespie (27) Donabate 4&3

• Brid Kelly (23) & Kathleen Lynch (24) Portumna halved with Mary Donohoe (17) & Eithne Dempsey (28) Donabate

• Martina O’Brien (20) & Pauline McEvoy (27) Portumna GC halved with Helen Ryan (21) Dorothy Moorhead (23) Donabate

3rd Place Play-Off

Cahir Park  (Munster) bt Banbridge (Ulster)  3.5-1.5

• Kathleen Alton (20) & Noreen Hally (29) Cahir Park bt Mildred Hodgett (11) Ada Lavery (28) Banbridge GC 2 & 1

• Breda Keating (18) & Miriam Halley (18) Cahir Park lost to Denise McBrien (17) & Lorna Kinstry (26) Banbridge

• Susan Carey (20) & Imelda Fitzpatrick (24) Cahir Park halved with Mary Quinn (22) & Ann Blevins (23) Banbridge GC

• Norma O’Brien (22) & Pauline Mulcahy (28) Cahir Park bt Ann Mairs (24) & Suzanne Murfitt (24) Banbridge GC 4&3

• Kathleen Lonergan (18) & Mary Lyons (24) Cahir Park bt Susan Magennis (17) & Denise Nelson (33) Banbridge 3&2