By SHAY KEENAN
Strong women line-ups for Ireland
IRELAND will send strong teams to the Women’s European Championships in Slovenia next month. Danielle McVeigh leads the six-player senior side, while the girls team is backbone by the Maguire twins from Slieve Russell.
Stephanie Meadow, from Royal Portrush, who has had a very successful season on the US college circuit, is also named on the girls team.
IRELAND (European Ladies Team Championships, Bled, Slovenia, July 7th-11th): Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies), Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush). Reserves: Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Catherine Tucker (Limerick), Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor). Captain: Claire Robinson. Manager: Fiona McComb.
IRELAND (European Girls Team Championships, Kokkola, Finland, July 7th-11th): Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush). Reserves: Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), Patrice Delaney (Birr). Captain: Sinead Keane. Manager: Susan Gaffney.
Reid takes her first Leinster title
A new name was written on the Leinster Championship trophy last Monday as Royal Portrush’s Charlene Reid won the title for the first time, defeating Karen Delaney from Carlow 5 and 4 in the final at The Island.
Reid, after rounds of 81 and 80, had finished second in the qualifying, finishing two strokes adrift of Delaney – sister of the 2008 winner Tara, who has since joined the professional ranks – who led the field following rounds of 77 and 82.
The Duggan Cup final was a closer affair, with Virginia’s Carol McEnroe retaining her title after winning on the last hole with a par against Mary Devine of Black Bush.
Meanwhile, Ballybunion’s Emma O’Driscoll is the Connacht Senior Championship winner after defeating Enniscrone’s Sarah Helly 5 and 3 in last Thursday’s final in Athlone.
In the Junior Championship, Kung Fanning of Ballyhaunis won a tight final against Margaret Foy from Portsalon, winning 2up.
Maguires and McVeigh new caps for Vagliano
THE Maguire twins from Slieve Russell and and Danielle McVeigh from Royal Co Down Ladies are among seven new caps selected on the Britain and Ireland team to compete against the Continent of Europe for the Vagliano Trophy at Hamburg GC in Germany on July 24th and 25th.
All three Irish representatives will make their debut in the event, with Ireland’s Mary McKenna captaining the side.
Leona is the current Scottish Strokeplay champion and French Under-21 champion, and last week made history by becoming the youngest player to qualify for the matchplay stages of the British Ladies Amateur championship, progressing to the quarter-finals.
Lisa is the Irish Ladies and Girls’ champion, while McVeigh is the reigning Welsh Open Strokeplay champion and has also had top-five finishes at the Scottish Open Strokeplay and St Rule Trophy this year. All three will compete in the AIB Fáilte Ireland Ladies Irish Open at Portmarnock links on June 26th-28th.
BRITAIN AND IRELAND VAGLIANO TEAM: Jodi Ewart (Catterick, age 21), Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton, 20), Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell, 14), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell, 14), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies, 21), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle, 20), Rhian Wyn Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan, 22), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle, 22), Sally Watson (Elie Earlsferry, 17). Reserves: Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale, 17), Hannah Barwood (Knowle, 18), Carly Booth (Comrie, 16), Laura Collin (John O’Gaunt, 22).
O'Doherty shoots course record
THE Monthly Medal at Narin and Portnoo Golf Club featured an amateur course record and a hat-trick of holes-in-one. Finnian O’Doherty followed his 44 points in finishing runner-up in last week’s President’s Prize with a superb score of two-under-par 71 on Sunday. The 16-year-old six-handicapper has seen his handicap reduced by eight shots in the past year as he knocked four shots off the course record.
After turning in one-over-par 36, he garnered four birdies coming home to record 71 and a nett 65 for a two-stroke victory.
Finnian’s feat was magnificent, but three other golfers were staking their own unique place in the club’s roll of honour by recording aces at the same hole.
The par three seventh has long been one of the signature holes at Narin and Portnoo and it will always be extra-special for John Quinn, Frankie Kennedy and Kevin Patton after last Sunday’s wonder shots.
THE Galway Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by John Mulholland Bookmaker, will be played on Saturday next. Mark King of Athenry Golf Club will defend his title over 36 holes with shotgun starts at 9.30am and 2.30pm. Details at 091 522033 or email galwaygolf@eircom.net.
Age no barrier for Damery
AGE is no barrier to Seán Damery of Woodbrook GC. The 89-year-old has figured in the winner’s enclosure on five occasions since January, and last Saturday lost another shot on his handicap by finishing joint-third in the Trustees prize.
Damery fired 39 points off his 26 handicap and just lost out by two points to Jim Carney.
Damery, deducted a shot in the annual review of 2008, still takes lessons from club professional Mark Callan, and pulls his caddy car.
Damery’s – who says “buggys are for wimps” – next target is the club matchplay singles which has now reached the quarter-finals stage.
Trophy Kearney, Cutler on European team
NIALL Kearney and Paul Cutler have been named on the six-man Ireland team that will go in search of a third consecutive European Team Championship win at Conwy Golf Club in Wales at the end of June.
Royal Dublin’s Kearney and Portstewart’s Cutler – who won the East of Ireland at Baltray earlier this month – were on the winning side at Royal Park in Turin last year.
This time around they are joined by Co Louth’s Simon Ward, who was a member of the 2007 when Ireland won at Western Gailes in Scotland.
Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Dara Lernihan (Castle) and Cian Curley (Newlands) complete the six-man team and will make their European Championship debuts when proceedings get under way from June 30th-July 4th.
Co Sligo’s Kevin Flanagan is the non-playing team captain. Ireland have won on six occasions – 1965, 1967, 1983, 1987, 2007 and 2008.
THE Castle All Ireland Father and Son Foursomes competition will be held this year in the second week of July. Qualifying will take place on an 18-hole strokes format on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July. Entry is €60 per pair.
A website for the event has been set up at www.castlegc.ie/father_son. Entries can now be made through this website or by calling the club on (01) 4904207.
