McMullen v Webb Irish seniors final 

on the cards at Birr

FROM THE GOLF UNION IRELAND WEBSITE
Some tight matches prevailed during the opening rounds in both the Championship and Plate at the Irish Senior Women's Close at Birr Golf Club today.
Gertie McMullen (The Island) was three down to Mallow's Mary Dowling through nine holes in the first round. However a chip-in on 17 and a birdie on 18 secured a one-hole win for the leading qualifier.  
Pat Doran (Donabate) overcame experienced Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) by 5 and 4, while Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) and Emer Kirwan (Killiney) both came out fighting to record wins against senior internationals Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) and Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush).
A hole in one on the second helped Mary Sheehy (Tralee) overcome Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) by one hole. Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown), Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) and Laura Webb (East Berkshire) also recorded significant wins to progress to the quarter-finals.
The top half of the quarter-finals proved to be a closer affair as the match between McMullen and Doran came down to the wire. It was level pegging for the entire match until McMullen holed out for birdie on the home green, to win the match by one hole.
McAuliffe didn't falter an inch against Carol Wickham, and ensured she booked her spot in the semi-final with a one-hole win. She will now take on the defending champion.
The bottom-half quarter-finalists had an earlier finish as Maria O'Reilly cruised through nine holes five up on Mary Sheehy and closed out the match on the 14th. Similarly Laura Webb continued her steady form to card a 3 and 1 win over Emer Kirwan.  O'Reilly and Webb will now meet in the championship semi-final tomorrow morning.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
ROUND ONE
Gertie McMullen (The Island) bt Mary Dowling (Mallow) 1 hole.
Pat Doran (Donabate) bt Helen Jones (Royal Portrush) 5 and 4.
Carol Wickham (Laytown and Bettystown) bt Niamh Giblin (Dun Laoghaire) 3 and 2
Margaret McAuliffe (Ballybunion) bt Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) 3 and 1
Mary Sheehy (Tralee) bt Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) 1 hole.
Maria O'Reilly (Headfort) bt Fiona Corbett (Castletroy) 4 and 3
Laura Webb (East Berkshire) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 6 and 5
Emer Kirwan (Kiliney) bt Mary MacLaren (Royal Portrush) 5 and 4.
QUARTER-FINALS
McMullen bt Doran 1 hole.
McAuliffe bt Wickham 1 hole.
O'Reilly bt Sheehy 5 and 4.
Webb bt Kirwan 3 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
08.50 McMullen v McAuliffe.
09.00 O'Reilly v Webb

PLATE RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Kate Evans (Royal Co Down Ladies) bt Rita O'Neill (Callan) 7 and 5
Honoria Fogarty (Castlecomer) bt Pamela Morgan (Lahinch) 6 and 5.
Mary Duane (Hermitage) bt Ann Monteith (Slieve Russell) 4 and 2
Catherine Reilly (The Heath) bt Valerie Shannon (Lahinch) 5 and 4
Rita McGoldrick (Enniscrone) bt Siobhan McGrath (Athlone) 1 hole.
Catherine Bird (Nenagh) bt Paula Murray (Naas) 3 and 2.
Sheena Mc Elroy (Grange) bt Toni McDonagh (Fortwilliam) 8 and 7
Margaret Hayes (Tralee) bt Fiona Glass (Ballycastle) 1 hole.
QUARTER-FINALS
Evans bt Fogarty 3 and 2.
Reilly bt Duane 5 and 3.
Bird bt McGoldrick 4 and 3.
McElroy bt Hayes 2 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
08:30 Evans v Reilly
08:40 Bird v McElroy