AA INSURANCE LADIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
LIMERICK GOLF CLUB
September 26 to 28, 2008

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI-FINALS
East Cork 4, Courtown 1
East Cork, looking to capture their first AA All Ireland Championship, were in emphatic form, beating Courtown by a comprehensive margin. Marie O’Brien, in the top match, led the team in style with a 5 and 3 win over Courtown’s Pat Kinsella and this was followed by team-mates Theresa Roche and Breda O’Farrell winning by 4 and 3 and 7 and 5 respectively to secure a final line up against Slade Valley.
Slade Valley 3, Curra West 2
Slade Valley got their semi-final campaign off to a good start against Curra West, winning their top two matches courtesy of Dympna Wilson and Libby Delap. Curra West then levelled the match with Martina McDonagh winning at the 19th, after being two down with two to play. Ann Fahy won by one hole.
With the match tied, the final contest between Margaret Birmingham from Slade Valley and Mary McDonagh respresenting Curra West went to the 21st hole before Margaret secured the win for Slade Valley.
SENIOR FOURSOMES SEMI-FINALS
Douglas 2½, Shandon Park 1½
Douglas set up a mouth watering final by beating Shandon Park to face Co Louth in tomorrow’s final. Shandon Park put up a good fight but playing flat matches with handicaps in favour of Douglas the outcome looked inevitable.
Past international Kate MacCann and Deirdre O’Hanlon led their team with a 4 and 3 win against Julie Hall and Diane Nickles. Munster interprovincial player Karen O’Neill, alongside Liz O’Connell, had a winning margin of 3 and 2 against Jenny Young and Karen Simpson to seal the win for Douglas.
Co Louth 2½, Galway 1½
Co Louth lived up to their billing as favourites by beating Galway. Susan Mullaney and Karen O’Neill set up the victory with a 6 and 5 win over Ger Neville and Sheelagh Kearney.
Leinster interprovincial player Jenny Gannon with partner Jane McCabe ensured the Baltray team meet Douglas in the final by defeating Rita Grealish and Rita Hannon 4 and 3.
JUNIOR FOURSOMES SEMI-FINALS
Rathbane 2, Moate 1
Local team Rathbane ensured Limerick have a team in Sunday’s final. Anne Marie Kilroy and Anne Byrnes led the way by beating Pearce Corbett and Mary Egan 2 and 1 but the lead was cancelled out by Moate pairing of Ann Whelan and Carmel Carroll who had a victory of the same margin against Jude Byrne and Marie Barker.
Rathbane’s final pairing of Marie Bartlett and Margaret O’Sullivan were four down early on in their match but produced an amazing comeback and cheers of joy echoed at their home course when Marie Bartlett sank the winning putt on the 17th green.
Mountbellew 2, Rathfarnham 1
Mountbellew have two bites at the cherry at tomorrow’s final with their Junior Foursomes team following up on the Junior Cup victory. Rathfarnham got off to a good start with their second pairing of Christine Richardson and Maebh Walsh having a convincing 6 and 5 win against Siobhan Fallon & Caroline Delaney but Mountbellew’s top pairing then levelling the match. Michelle Burke and Noreen Treacy won by 5 and 3. The final pairing from Mountbellew secured victory with a 2 and 1 win.
Match details:
INTERMEDIATE CUP SEMI-FINALS
East Cork 4 ,Courtown 1
Marie O'Brien (16) bt Pat Kinsella (16) 5 and 3.
Deirdre Harte (16) halved with Anne Targett (17).
Theresa Roche (17) bt Irene Poole (19) 4 and 3.
Valerie McCarthy (17) halved with Kate Sheehan (20).
Breda O'Farrell (20) bt Siobhan Freeney (20) 7 and 5.
Slade Valley 3, Curra West 2
Dympna Wilson (17) bt Emer O'Rourke (17) 2 holes.
Libby Delap (19) bt Breda Lawless (17) 4 and 3.
Olive Whelan (19) lost to Martina McDonagh (20) at 19th.
Nuala Fagan (20) lost to Ann Fahy (20) 1 hole.
Margaret Birmingham (21) bt Mary McDonagh (22) at 21st.
SENIOR FOURSOMES SEMI-FINALS
Douglas 2½, Shandon Park 1½
Kate MacCann (4) & Deirdre M O'Hanlon (10) bt Julie Hall (6) & Diane Nickles (11) 4 and 3.
Karen O'Neill (3) & Deirdre M O'Hanlon (11) bt Jenny Young (6) & Karen Simpson (14) 3 and 2.
Eavan Higgins (2) & Claire Nash (13) halved with Diane Conway (10) & Vikki Simpson (11).
Co Louth 2½, Galway 1½
Deirdre Smith (+1) & Susan Kenny (15) halved with Orla Barry (6) & Lorraine Higgins (11).
Susan Mullaney (6) & Karen Yeates (8) bt Ger Neville (8) & Sheelagh Kearney (10) 6 and 5.
Jenny Gannon (1) & Jane McCabe (13) bt Rita Grealish (11) & Rita Hannon (13) 4 and 3.
JUNIOR FOURSOMES SEMI-FINALS
Rathbane 2, Moate 1
Anne Marie Kilroy (19) & Anne Byrnes (23) bt Pearse Corbett (17) & Mary Egan (21) 2 and 1.
Jude Byrne (18) & Marie Barker (27) lost Ann Whelan (18) Carmel Carroll (20) 2 and 1.
Marie Bartlett (21) & Margaret O'Sullivan (27) bt Beth Dunne (18) & Breda Kelly (23) 2 and 1.
Mountbellew 2, Rathfarnham 1
Michelle Burke (18) & Noreen Treacy (21) bt Carol Cahill (19) & Grainne Moyles (24) 5 and 3.
Siobhan Fallon (17) & Caroline Delaney (25) lost to Christine Richardson (18) & Maebh Walsh (28) 6 and 5.
Kathleen Bergin (20) & Nora Madden (24) bt Roz Burgess (22) & Peggy Glasheen (25) 2 and 1.