Irish Women's Close Championship:"With two teachers in the house, it would not hold any terror for me," said 12-year-old Lisa Maguire, from Slieve Russell, when she learned she would be meeting 26-year-old Dublin-based teacher Marian Riordan from Tipperary in today's semi-final of the Lancôme Irish Women's Close Championship at Lahinch.

The remark was inspired by her mother, Breda, a national teacher in Cavan. Her father, Declan, also a teacher, said Lisa "is a quiet girl but not shy, and without her mother's inspiration would not have made such a spirited comment".

Lisa admitted, "Today's match was the toughest I had so far in the championship".

She had just beaten former senior international Sinead Keane from the The Curragh by 5 and 4. "They were all hard matches," Lisa added.

In the morning she had disposed of promising young Munster player Catherine Tucker from Limerick by 4 and 3.

Lisa said she was sorry her twin Leona was beaten at the 19th hole on the previous day. The girls have been inseparable in sport since they were eight years old.

Before taking up golf they were outstanding swimmers and represented Cavan in the Community Games, having won various championships.

Their father said that it was while Lisa was recovering from a fractured arm that they took to golf two summers ago which was a sport also enjoyed by him.

"They go back to school on Friday," he added, having tomorrow off because of the elections.

In the course of the match with Keane, Lisa had birdies at the first, fourth, fifth and 14th, where the match ended.

The youngster was three up after four holes, two up after eight, three up after nine and four up after 11. Her opponent today, Marian Riordan, a former international, also had four birdies in disposing of another international, Sinead O'Sullivan, by 6 and 5.

Something of a surprise was the defeat of Tara Delaney from Carlow by Maura Morrin of The Curragh by one hole.

Delaney's sister Karen, however, kept the family flag flying with a 4 and 3 victory over another international, Deirdre Smith from Co Louth.