Killarney and Royal Portrush will contest the ladies All – Ireland Senior Cup Final today at The Royal Curragh. The Finals got underway when the five District Champions Killarney, Royal Portrush, The Heath, The Island and Roscommon were joined by the three of the district runners-up; Royal County Down Ladies, Lahinch and 2016 Champions Kilkenny.
After 4 tightly contested morning matches, Killarney, The Island, The Heath and Royal Portrush progressed to yesterday afternoons Semi-Finals. The Island, who were All-Ireland Champions in 2015, produced a strong line-out in their top games with Internationals Julie McCarthy and Lauren Walsh leading the team out. However, they were matched by their Irish team mates Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy and both results went in the Munster girls favour. Irish Senior International Gertie McMullen (The Island) shortly followed with a win over Mary Sheehy 2&1 to decrease the deficit to one but Kelly Brotherton sealed a place in the final for Killarney when she overcame Clodagh Walsh on the 20th.
Royal Portrush comfortably put two points on the board in the second Semi-Final when Emma Forbes and Hannah Henderson won early. Despite a win for Molly Dowling, Royal Portrush’s spot in the final was sealed when Lucy Simpson halved the 18th to beat Meadhbh Doyle by 1 hole. Helen Jones, who is this week making her 33rd Senior Cup appearance for Royal Portrush, was all square with Shannen Brown when their match was called in, giving the Ulster team a 3 ½ to 1 ½ win.
Final – Saturday 26th August
09:00 Killarney vs. Royal Portrush
Semi-Finals
Killarney (3) The Island (2) (Killarney names first) Mairead Martin beat Julie McCarthy 3&1, Valerie Clancy beat Lauren Walsh 1 hole, Kelly Brotherton beat Clodagh Walsh 20th, Mary Sheehy lost to Gertie McMullen 2&1, Claire Keating halved lost to Suzy Sheehan 2&1
The Heath (1.5) Royal Portrush (3.5) (The Heath names first) Meadhbh Doyle lost to Lucy Simpson 1 hole, Molly Dowling beat Gemma McClenaghan 2&, Shannen Brown halved with Helen Jones (called-in), Catherine Reilly lost to Emma Forbes 7&6, Helen Kelly lost to Hannah Henderson 9&7
Quarter Finals
Killarney (4) Kilkenny (1) (Killarney names first) Mairead Martin beat Mary Dowling 4&3, Valerie Clancy beat Orla Dunphy 3&1, Kelly Brotherton beat Mary Leahy-Browne 2&1, Mary Sheehy halved with Jan Browne (called in), Eimear O’Donnell halved with Anne Smee (called in)
Roscommon (0.5) The Island (4.5) (Roscommon names first) Ruth Lennon lost to Julie McCarthy 5&4, Chloe O’Connor lost to Lauren Walsh 5&4, Aisling Hill lost to Clodagh Walsh 7&6, Paula Quinn halved with Gertie McMullen (called in), Ciara Ryan lost to Suzy Sheehan 7&6
The Heath (3.5) Royal County Down Ladies (1.5) (The Heath names first) Mary Doyle lost to Paula Grant 2&1, Meadhbh Doyle beat Danielle McVeigh 1hole, Molly Dowling beat Clare Calvert 5&4, Shannon Browne halved with Lavinia Bowe (called-in), Catherine Reilly beat Katie Poots 4&2
Lahinch (2) Royal Portrush (3) (Lahinch names first) Sinead Sexton lost to Lucy Simpson 19th, Sarah Cunningham lost to Gemma McClenaghan 3&1, Aine Donegan beat Helen Jones 3&2, Aideen Walsh beat Emma Forbes 2&1, Olivia Lucas lost to Hannah Henderson 3&1
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