Women's golfDefeat in the final of the Lancome Irish Women's Close Championship at Donegal golf club was quickly forgotten by Maria Dunne as the Irish side for the European team championship in Germany next month was announced.
The Skerries three-handicapper, a loser by two holes to champion Martina Gillen, will be one of three new caps in the side that will face the might of Europe at Frankfurt Golf Club on July 8th to 12th. The others are Helen Jones and Maura Morrin, with Karen Delaney (18) first reserve.
"Losing the final was disappointing but I enjoyed the week. Getting to the final was good and now being named in the Irish side is fantastic," enthused the 20-year-old.
Dunne has just completed her first year of studies at Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, California - she plays at number one in the college team.
Patience, meanwhile, has paid off for Jones. After many years in top-level golf she had more-or-less given up hope of winning a senior cap. Only once since she made her senior interprovincial debut in 1980 was she named as a reserve for Ireland.
"I just can't believe that I have finally made the team - it seems like a dream. I'm so delighted," she said."My goal this season was to win the Ulster championship and after doing that I was quite content. Now I'm over the moon."
Gillen, a plus-one handicapper who has completed three years at Kent State University in Ohio, clinched the title on the 18th in Donegal when Dunne three-stabbed the green and conceded a five-footer to the new champion.
SEMI-FINALS - M Dunne (Skerries) bt C Coughlan (Cork) 4 and 3; M Gillen (Beaverstown) bt H Jones (Strabane) 3 and 2. FINAL - Gillen bt Dunne 2 holes.
IRISH TEAM (for the European team championship): C Coughlan (Cork), M Dunne (Skerries), M Gillen (Beaverstown), H Jones (Strabane), T Mangan (Ennis), M Morrin (Curragh). Reserves: 1, K Delaney (Carlow); 2, S Keane (Curragh). Non-playing captain: M McKenna (Donabate); Manager: S O'Brien-Kenny (Grange).
