ROYAL PORTRUSH AND THE ISLAND
CONTEST SENIOR CUP FINAL

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
Royal Portrush will play The Island in the final of the 2008 SUZUKI Senior Cup at Galway Golf Club.
Royal Portrush eased through their morning semi-final match against Kilkenny, taking the first two matches and, despite losing the middle match on the home green, secured the points when Maura Diamond convincingly won on 13.
The Island, who haven’t won the Senior Cup since 1929, were surprise victors over seasoned Douglas. Rachel Cassidy once again led from the front and after Suzy Sheehan beat Kate MacCann at the first extra hole, Gertie McMullen secured a berth in the final with a nail-biting victory on the home green.
Royal Portrush, favourites to capture their fourth title in seven years, and The Island teed off in the final at 2pm in Galway Golf Club.
RECAP ON THE FRIDAY ACTION
Favourites and number one seeds Ennis started brightly when Junior International Sarah Cunningham saw off past Irish Champion Eileen Rose Power on the 16th green. This sparked an immense fight back by Kilkenny with Mary Dowling and Mary Leahy Browne securing wins to put their side 2-1 ahead.
The all-important point was secured by Ann Smee when she holed from twelve feet on the first extra hole to end Ennis’s hopes of back-to-back victories.
Rachel Cassidy was The Island’s heroine when she beat Lisa Maguire on the 17th. In the battle of the youngsters, Cassidy holed critical putts at crucial times in the match and never looked back once she edged ahead early on in the back nine.
Leona Maguire evened the tie and team-mate Bronagh Lunney gave her side the advantage following victory over Suzy Sheehan. Gertie McMullen eased to victory in her tie and Angie Dwyer secured a semi-final berth when she beat Ann Monteith on 17.
Past Internationals Eavan Higgins and Kate MacCann were right on form, winning both their ties for Douglas against Roscommon. Ailish Thompson secured the third crucial point when she defeated Paula Quinn 2 and 1.

Royal Portrush eased through their tie against Woodbrook in the final quarter-final tie. Sue Phillips drew first blood for the underdogs with a 4/2 win over Gemma Hegarty, but comfortable victories for Lucy Simpson, Naoimh Quigg and Helen Jones saw the northern team in to the last four.

Midland Champions Kilkenny now meet last year’s runners-up Royal Portrush in the second of tomorrow’s semi-finals at 8.50am while the opening tie at 8am sees The Island take on an ever-improving Douglas side.

Saturday 30th August