Lahinch overcome Killarney to retain ILGU All Ireland Senior Cup title
Lahinch Golf Club, winners of the 2019 Senior Cup All-Ireland Finals at Killarney Golf Club. Image by Jenny Matthews/Cashman Photography
Niamh O’Dwyer sank a monster eagle putt at the 16th to ensure Lahinch retained the ILGU’s All-Ireland Senior Cup with a 3.5-1.5 win over hosts Killarney on the Killeen Course at the stunning Co Kerry resort.
Laytown & Bettystown, Woodbrook, Roscommon, Kilkenny, Lurgan and Royal County Down Ladies suffered defeats in the quarter and semi-final matches held yesterday to leave the last two All-Ireland champions to duel for this year’s title.
Despite the absence of Girls’ international Aine Donegan, Valerie Hassett's Lahinch boasted three of the winning Munster Women’s Interprovincial squad in Sinead Sexton, Aideen Walsh and Sarah Cunningham and having waited 126 years to win the title for the first time last year, they retained in some style.
Chloe Ryan, who returned to the Irish team this year, got the ball rolling with a 3&2 win over Mairead Martin before Sexton defeated Kelly Brotherton 5&4.
Killarney's Tracy Eakin have Killarney their first point with victory over Aideen Walsh before Girls’ interprovincial O’Dwyer eagled the 16th from long range to beat Killarney’s Lady Captain Mary Sheehy 4&2 and secure the title for the Co Clare club.
Cunningham's match with Corrina Griffin was called-in as Lahinch prepared to continue their celebrations without Ryan, who had to head back to London to continue her training to become a solicitor.
"Everyone is so happy to win again this year," said Ryan, who has played some of her best golf this year, winning all three of her matches in Killarney.
"Myself and Mairead had a great match today, we’d 16 birdies between us. I wasn’t part of the team who won last year but I’ve been a member of Lahinch since I was 16 so I am delighted to have played this year and help the team get over the line."
ILGU Senior Cup, All Ireland Finals, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club (August 22-24)
Quarter Finals
Lahinch 4 Laytown & Bettystown 1 (Lahinch name first)
Chloe Ryan beat Carol Wickham 3&2;
Sinead Sexton halved with Ellie Metcalfe (called-in);
Aideen Wash beat Rachel Taylor 6&5;
Niamh O’Dwyer beat Barbara Cooney 5&4;
Sarah Cunningham halved with Aimee Wickham called-in
Woodbrook 4.5 Roscommon 0.5 (Woodbrook names first)
Sue Phillips beat Ruth Lennon 2&1;
Lauren Murray halved with Blaithin O’Brien (called-in)
Nicola Coffey beat Olivia Costello 5&4;
Siobhan McCartan beat Rosemary O’Brien 8&6;
Caroline Hewitt beat Mary Lalor 6&5
Kilkenny 0 Killarney 5 (Kilkenny names first)
Mary Dowling lost to Mairead Martin 6&4;
Jan Browne lost to Kelly Brotherton 4&2;
Mary Leahy-Browne lost to Tracy Eakin 6&5;
Sarah Molloy lost to Mary Sheehy 4&3;
Anne Smee lost to Corrina Griffin 6&4
Royal County Down Ladies 2 Lurgan 3 (RCDL name first)
Paula Grant lost to Annabel Wilson 5&4;
Katie Poots lost to Niamh Ward 5&4;
Molly O’Hara beat Cara Murphy 2&1;
Kate Evans lost to Aoife Browne 1 hole;
Anita McCaw beat Fiona McGrady 4&3
Semi Finals
Lahinch 4.5 Woodbrook 0.5 (Lahinch names first)
Chloe Ryan beat Sue Phillips 3&1;
Sinead Sexton beat Lauren Murray 5&4;
Aideen Walsh beat Nicola Coffey 2&1;
Niamh O’Dwyer halved with Siobhan McCartan (called-in);
Sarah Cunningham beat Caroline Hewitt 4&3
Killarney 4 Lurgan 1 (Killarney names first)
Mairead Martin beat Annabel Wilson 19th;
Kelly Brotherton lost to Niamh Ward 1 hole;
Tracy Eakin beat Cara Murphy 4&3;
Mary Sheehy beat Aoife Brown 7&6;
Corrina Griffin beat Christine Hagan 6&4
Final
Lahinch 3.5 Killarney 1.5 (Lahinch names first)
Chloe Ryan beat Mairead Martin 3&2;
Sinead Sexton beat Kelly Brotherton 5&4;
Aideen Walsh lost to Tracy Eakin 3&2;
Niamh O’Dwyer beat Mary Sheehy 4&2;
Sarah Cunningham halved with Corrina Griffin (called-in)
