Malahide captain Orla McMahon says her team are desperate to make their chance pay at the third time of asking in the Flogas Irish Mixed Foursomes in Oughterard.
Having lost out to hosts Dooks in the 2015 decider and Ballinasloe in Knightsbrook last year, the Dublin outfit will take on Fermoy in tomorrow’s final.
Malahide edged out Achill Island on the 19th hole today after a thrilling semi-final and McMahon believes this is the opportunity to finally end their drought.
“It feels fantastic. This is our third time in nine years being in the final, so we really want to convert this one and this is going to be our year,” said McMahon.
“We’ve had a different team, one or two the same from last year. We found a load of young ones who can hit the ball. So you know we’ve had the strategy of low men again and then higher women.
“Hopefully we get it through it this time, just one more hurdle to go.”
Cork club Fermoy had a slightly more comprehensive result when they got the better of Millicent on a 2.5 to 1.5 scoreline. Their captain Eddie Murphy is also excited about Fermoy’s chances of ending a long wait for glory.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have a green pennant in reach,” said Murphy.
“I’m just so proud of that panel, they dug deep to get this far for the very first time in our history. It’s about 57 years since we won a pennant. We already have the blue of Munster now hopefully tomorrow we can add the green.
“It’s too long to be without a pennant and our clubhouse needs a bit of decorating. So a green pennant would be a nice place to start, brilliant focal point.”
In the Irish Mixed Fourball, Castlebar were the first side to book their place in the final, thanks to a thrilling win over Belvoir Park in a play-off.
“We’re absolutely delighted to get to the final. I would like to compliment our opponents, Belvoir Park today for a great round of golf. And yeah it was hard fought but we came through in the end and we’re delighted,” said Castlebar captain Terri Fahy.
“It’s always hard when you go to a play-off because you never know what will happen. But our captains up to this point, Peter and Connie, had prepared our team very well so I had a feeling we would get through it in the end.
“But you never know and we had tough opponents, so we’re delighted. I’d like to congratulate all of the team.”
Clare’s Woodstock, earned their spot in the final against Castlebar, after a 2.5 to 1.5 win over Portlaoise. Woodstock captain, Tony Neville, says they took it one match at a team en route to the decider.
“Delighted, absolutely delighted to be this far, surprised to be this far,” said Neville.
“It was a bit casual earlier on in the year but we got on a run. So anything from now on is going to be a bonus.
“We’ve only looked one step forward, what will be will be. It would be fantastic, a club like ours, a middle sized club, we didn’t have a lot of pennants up until now so tomorrow would be an absolute bonus.”
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