Ladies Interclub Update
As the dust now settles, we take a moment to reflect on what has been a hugely successful year for the ladies interclub teams this year, winning a total of 6 pennants. Leinster Central winners for Revive Active Fourball, Intermediate Cup, Junior Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes and All Ireland winners for Revive Active Fourball and Intermediate Cup. Relive some of the action below with match reports and some snippets of coverage over the year, 2023 will be a hard one to top!
Revive Active All Ireland – Match Report
A historic weekend for Gowran Park as they won their first All-Ireland pennant. The Gowran ladies were winners in the Revive Active All Ireland Fourball in Knightsbrook earlier this year. It had been a long road for the ladies to the final, having played a total of 8 rounds to get through to the final weekend. The panel travelled to Knightsbrook on Friday 15th September to take on Dundalk and looking to book their spot in the final on the Sunday. Gowran got off to a good start in their match against Dundalk with the final two pairing of Judy Dick and Ashleigh Boote and Aisling Costelloe and Helena McCormack getting ahead early. But the team needed one of the first matches to come in. All three games were tight through the front nine and the ladies from Dundalk playing very well. After the turn Rachel Dick and Brigid Mullins started to pull away and were able to secure the win 3/2. Judy Dick and Ashleigh Boote won 8/6 and Helena McCormack and Aisling Costelloe won 6/5. Orla McCormack and Sinead Kearney and Lottie Boote and Kate Hennessey were called in AS. Manager Eileen Tobin thanked the ladies from Dundalk for a sporting game and congratulated her players for booking their spot in the final. Earlier that morning Gort had beaten Cahir Park, so on a wet Sunday morning the ladies teed off against Gort, in what turned out to be nothing short of an epic battle. Gowran were under pressure from the start, but Judy Dick and Ashleigh Boote settled in quickly and got scores on the board for Gowran, playing excellent golf the ladies won their match 5/4. Rachel Dick and Brigid Mullins were up against a very strong pairing from Gort and despite their best efforts they lost their match 3/2. Lottie Boote and Kate Hennessey came from 3dn and fought back to 1dn coming through 17 but the ladies ran out of holes and with both teams parring the 18th the ladies conceded to Gort. Orla McCormack and Sinead Kearney who at one point in the round were 4dn turned it around for Gowran winning their match on 17. So it all came down to the final pairing of Aisling and Helena, who having been 2up had slipped back to 1dn through 16. One down and 2 to play, it wasn’t looking good for Gowran, as the crowds gathered in from the other matches the fairway was lined with supporters from Gowran and Gort, all watching the final pair. The support spurred the ladies on with Helena securing a par and Aisling getting a fantastic birdie the match was AS heading to the par 3 18th. All four ladies landed on the green but it was the two pars from the Gowran ladies that secured the win for Gowran and brought home the title. Manager Eileen Tobin thanked manager Ann Marie Craddock from Gort for a great game. Eileen commented ‘to come down to the final putt on the final hole, and the pairs so evenly matched, it could have gone either way, but we are thrilled with this fantastic win, the first All-Ireland in our clubs 22 year history’. The support from the Gowran Park members was exceptional, with many members travelling up to support the ladies and cheer them on to their win. Manager Eileen also thanked panel member; Ann Mullins, Mary McEvoy, Niamh Connelly and assistant manager Keelin Walsh.
Ladies Intermediate Cup All Ireland – Match Report
The Gowran Park ladies claimed a historic victory in Westport back in September, winning their second All Ireland title this year in the Intermediate Cup. The ladies took on Portsalon in their semi final on the Friday. With the ladies from Donegal playing well, but the Gowran ladies were able to pull away to book their spot in the final against Portumna on Saturday. With an early tee off and rain on the way the Gowran ladies got off to a good start. Orla McCormack teed off for Gowran first and was able to go 2 ahead, but her Galway opponent got it back to AS on the turn. Orla kept her game steady and was able to get back to 2up towards the closing holes. Aisling Costelloe and Helena McCormack were second and third out respectively and with their very strong play were able to get the first and second points on the board for Gowran. Sisters Lottie Boote and Ashleigh Boote were the final two out for Gowran. Lottie played a very strong Galway lady and at one point was 3 down, but never giving up, Lottie got her match back to AS and had a putt to go 1up when her match was called in. Ashleigh Boote played very well winning her match on 14th, while Orla won her match on 16th. Both ladies coming in with the final points to seal the victory for Gowran Park. Manager Sinead Kearney thanked the ladies of Portunma for a sporting game and also thanked the fantastic support from members who travelled up from Kilkenny to watch the ladies. Sinead also thanked Westport Golf Club for their well-run event, Golf Ireland for their support on the day and panel members Ann Mullins, Maura Coe and special mention to the fantastic caddies.
