AA INSURANCE LADIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
LIMERICK GOLF CLUB

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY IRISH LADIES GOLF UNION
AA INSURANCE MINOR CUP FINAL
Malahide 4, Carlow 1
Malahide, with a mother and daughter duo, won three matches in style to secure the AA Insurance Minor Cup title. Ciara Smith got her team off to a great start, beating Carlow’s Phyll Farrell 5 and 4.
Ciara’s mother Maire Falvey followed her daughter in with a fine 3 and 2 result over Mary Farrell and the performance of the day was from Malahide’s Colette Moran who recorded an impressive 6 and 4 win.
AA INSURANCE INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL
Slade Valley 3 ½, East Cork 1 ½
Slade Valley claimed the AA Insurance Intermediate Championship by beating East Cork in the final. For the experienced East Cork Intermediate side it was a bitter blow, being their second defeat in a row at the All Ireland Final. They lost out to Enniscorthy in 2007. Dympna Wilson put the first point on the board for Slade Valley by beating Marie O’Brien 5 and 3.
Slade Valley’s Margaret Birmingham earned herself a hole in one at the 98 metre 14th hole and earned her team a point with a win on the 16th green. Olive Whelan took her East Cork opponent Theresa Roche to 19th before winning the title for her side.
AA INSURANCE JUNIOR CUP FINAL
Enniscorthy 3½, Mountbellew 1½
Enniscorthy achieved their third AA Insurance All Ireland trophy in two years winning the AA Insurance Junior Cup at Limerick Golf Club following up on their Junior Foursomes and Intermediate cup victories at Athlone in 2007.
Jennifer King, Catriona Hogan and Cora Mernagh recorded wins against Mountbellew’s Catherine Gardiner, Aoife Fallon and Helen Costello respectively. Laura Burke in the top match for Mountbellew had given her team an excellent start with a 3 and 2 win but unfortunately it was not enough for Mountbellew and Enniscorthy take the trophy to the seaside.
AA INSURANCE JUNIOR FOURSOMES FINAL
Rathbane 2½, Mountbellew ½
Local heroes Rathbane achieved a remarked win against a much fancied Mountbellew team. Rathbane a municipal course and close neighbours of Limerick won their first All Ireland trophy and their pennant will decorate their clubhouse wall for evermore. With supporters lining the fairways Rathbane ladies impressed with Marie Bartlett and Margaret O’Sullivan beating Kathleen Bergin and Nora Madden 7 and 6.
This was followed by Anne Marie Kilroy and Anne Byrnes defeating Michelle Burke and Noreen Treacy 3 and 2. The cheers were heard and the champagne flowed.
AA INSURANCE SENIOR FOURSOMES FINAL
Co. Louth 2, Douglas 1
Co. Louth won the battle of the giants in defeating Douglas by 2 matches to 1. Past International Kate MacCann partnered with Deirdre O’Hanlon got Douglas off to a dream start beating Jenny Gannon and Jane McCabe 2 and 1.
However, Susan Mullaney and Karen Yates had a convincing 7 and 6 win against Karen O’Neill and Liz O’Donnell and Deirdre Smith and Susan Kenny ensured the trophy went to the links at Baltray defeating Eavan Higgins and Claire Nash 5 and 3.
AA INSURANCE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
Athenry 3½, Monkstown 1½
Athenry will be singing in the fields this evening after beating Monkstown in the Challenge Cup final. Leone Levis got Monkstown off to a great start winning 6 and 5 but Athenry’s Sara McDermott and Martha Breen also recorded wins of the same margin . With Athenry needing one more match, the attention focussed on Maria Conlon who was having a mighty battle against Brenda Geary but Maria held her nerve and managed to close out the match on the 17th green to yet more rapturous applause.
Details:
MINOR CUP FINAL
Malahide 4, Carlow 1
Ciara Smith (23) bt Phyll Farrell (23) 5 and 4.
Rosemary Cassin (23) halved with Aine O'Shea (24).
Maire Falvey (24) bt Mary Farrell (26).
Colette Moran (24) beat Pat McArdle (28) 6 and 4.
Yvonne Power (26) halved with Liz Whelan (28).
INTERMEDIATE CUP
Slade Valley 3½, East Cork 1½
Dympna Wilson (17) bt Marie O'Brien (16) 5 and 3.
Libby Delap (19) lost to Deirdre Harte (16) 4 and 2.
Olive Whelan (19) bt Theresa Roche (17) at 19th.
Nuala Fagan (20) halved with Fiona Morrison (19).
Margaret Birmingham (21) bt Breda O'Farrell (20) 3 and 2.
JUNIOR CUP
Enniscorthy 3½, Mountbellew 1½
Margaret Mooney (9) lost to Laura Burke (12) 3 and 2.
Jennifer King (9) bt Catherine Gardiner (13) 4 and 3.
Catriona Hogan (10) bt Aoife Fallon (13) 4 and 3.
Laura Dempsey (11) halved with Margaret Harkin (14).
Cora Mernagh (12) bt Helen Costello (15) 1 hole.
JUNIOR FOURSOMES
Rathbane 2½, Mountbellew 1½
Anne Marie Kilroy (19) & Anne Byrnes (23) bt Michelle Burke (18) & Noreen Treacy (21) 3 and 2.
Jude Byrne (18) & Marie Barker (27) halved with Siobhan Fallon (17) & Caroline Delaney (25).
Marie Bartlett (21) & Margaret O'Sullivan (27) bt Kathleen Bergin (20) & Nora Madden (24) 7 and 6.
SENIOR FOURSOMES
Co. Louth 2, Douglas 1
Jenny Gannon (1) & Jane McCabe (13) lost to Kate MacCann (4) & Deirdre O'Hanlon (10) 2 and 1.
Susan Mullaney (6) & Karen Yates (8) bt Karen O'Neill (3) & Liz O'Donnell (11) 7 and 6.
Deirdre Smith (+1) & Susan Kenny (15) bt Eavan Higgins (2) & Claire Nash (13) 5 and 3.
CHALLENGE CUP
Athenry 3½, Monkstown 1½
Pauline McEvoy (31) lost to Leone Levis (30) 6 and 5.
Sara McDermott (31) bt Ger O'Keefe (30) 6 and 5.
Martha Breen (32) bt Ruth Coulter (33) 6 and 5.
Maria Conlon (33) bt Brenda Geary (33) 2 and 1.
Carmel Burke (35) halved with Barbara Hanan (36)