Lahinch won the 2022 AIG Women’s Senior Cup at Tramore Golf Club. Picture: Thos Caffrey / Golffile

Carton House claimed the men's title for the second time in three years and Lahinch the women's for the third time in four at the AIG Men's and Women's Senior Cup Finals at sun-kissed Tramore.

In the Senior Cup, Carton House cruised to a 4-1 over nine-hole Cushendall, whose fairytale run to the final was a massive achievement.

The men from the northeast coast beat Athenry 3-2 in their semi-final, winning two matches on the 19th as Carton House defeated Tandragee 4-1.

A star-studded Carton House proved too strong in the final and added the title to their historic breakthrough win in the Covid-19 delayed 2020 edition last summer.

Keith Egan won 8&6, Darragh Flynn 6&4 and Aidan Dooley 4&3 to get them over the line with Paul O'Hanoin and Colin Cunningham, who came in for Leinster Interprovincial Marc Boucher, four-up when called in.

Carton House also won the Fred Daly Trophy this year and looks like being a force for years to come.

"One of our goals a number of years ago was to get them all playing championship golf," explained a delighted team captain Brian Cunningham of a panel featuring several from the club's winning 2012, 2014 and 2022 Fred Daly teams. "They are used to having a card hand or having to hole putts under pressure."

Cushendall’s semi-final with Athenry went down to the wire, with playing captain David Burns securing the winning point in additional holes with the match tied two-apiece.

They ran out of steam in the final, something Carton House captain Cunningham was able to counter thanks to his deep squad.

“I feel for Cushendall,” he said. “They had a huge run in winning Ulster, getting here and getting through the two matches to make the final.

“It takes it out of you, and we freshened up our team for the evening, the second half, because we know that. This is our sixth All-Ireland since 2013 and on the back of that you learn stuff, and you become comfortable in these surroundings but when it’s your first one you don’t.”

In Colin and John Cunningham, the generational baton is also being handed over with John – a leading player in Carton House’s Fred Daly Cup success earlier this year – a team substitute and caddying for father Colin who, at 50, was the senior member of the panel, though the team captain suggested that it may be Colin who’s carrying the bag for John in 12 months’ time.

Carton House won the 2022 AIG Men’s Senior Cup at Tramore. Picture: Thos Caffrey / Golffile

Carton’s Aidan Dooley sank the winning putt and was quick to pay tribute to the strength in depth they could rely on.

“It’s huge,” he said, ‘that’s where the extended panel really comes into it. Going back the last couple of years, it’s been very much an extended season and there’s so many games that everybody is likely to miss a couple through holidays and whatnot, but it’s great to be able to replace a player of quality with a player of equal quality.”

Though officially Cushendall will take the runners-up medals, Burns refuses to look at it that way.

“We couldn’t be prouder, coming from Cushendall in North Antrim, it’s traditionally hurling country and if you’re not playing hurling you’re looked at funny. But hopefully, now it’s hurling and golf country. We come from a nine-hole course, it’s 4,600 yards, so the achievement is ridiculous really.

“We’re like family, but the golf today by Carton was absolutely incredible. It was a joy to watch at times and I hope they really enjoy the celebrations tonight because they deserve it, but we’re both coming off the course feeling like winners.”

In the AIG Women's Senior Cup, Lahinch claimed the title for the third time in four years with a 4-1 win over a promising Douglas.

Aideen Walsh beat Clodagh Coughlan 3&1 and Sarah Cunningham closed out Karen O'Neill 2&1 before Niamh O'Dwyer came back from three down to beat Aoife Ni Thuama on the 18th as Olivia Lucas and Jenny Hennessy were called in.

All square playing the 18th, both players flirted with the penalty area left, but Ni Thuama's second flew out of bounds and O'Dwyer claimed the match and the Senior Cup.

"I am delighted now," O'Dwyer said as Lahinch, champions in 2018 and 2019, made up for last year's All Ireland final defeat to Elm Park. "The three matches we won were all tight and I was delighted to come back. The heart rate hasn't returned to normal yet!

“I just had to battle and battle and I managed to drag myself back and tie it up,’ a beaming O’Dwyer admitted, ‘then, you know, anything can happen on the 18th.”

Winning captain Aideen McCarthy, whose brother Larry is the current president of the GAA, admitted that it may take a few hours for victory to settle in.

“Relief. I suppose huge relief is the biggest emotion right now,’ she said, ‘after three very busy days and three tough matches. We had Royal County Down on Friday, Dún Laoghaire on Saturday and then Douglas today, and Douglas have been great rivals of ours over the years, always giving us a very tight match.”

AIG All Ireland Cups and Shields Finals Series, Tramore

AIG Women’s Senior Cup Final

Douglas 1 – 4 Lahinch (Douglas names first):

Clodagh Coughlan lost to Aideen Walsh 3&1,
Karen O’Neill lost to Sarah Cunningham 2&1,
Aoife Ni Thuama lost to Niamh O’Dwyer 1UP,
Jemma Barry halved with Olivia Lucas,
Jessica Kavanagh halved with Jenny Hennessy

AIG Men’s Senior Cup Semi-Finals

Cushendall 3 – 2 Athenry (Cushendall names first)

Ronan McCambridge lost to David Kitt 6&5
Christopher McLaughlin beat Aaron Gilligan 19th
Cathal MacCanna lost to David Mooney 1 up
David Burns beat Sean O’Connell 19th
Alistair McGregor beat Joe Bernie Jr. 3&2

Tandragee 1 – 4 Carton House (Tandragee names first)

James Hewitt halved with Darragh Flynn
Jamie Stothers lost to Marc Boucher 1 up
William Small halved with Keith Egan
Ross Dutton lost to Aidan Dooley 7&5
Stefan Greenberg lost to Paul O’Hanlon 3&1

AIG Men’s Senior Cup Final

Cushendall 1 – 4 Carton House (Cushendall names first)

Cathal MacCanna lost to Aidan Dooley 4&3
Ronan McCambridge lost to Darragh Flynn 6&4
Christopher McLaughlin halved with Colin Cunningham
David Burns lost to Keith Egan 8&6
Alistair McGregor halved with Paul O’Hanlon