Powerful Portrush edge past Douglas for glory

A DOUGLAS side unrated before the matches began put up a great battle in Saturday’s final of the Irish Ladies Cup at Cork Golf Club before conceding a 24th victory in the event to the powerful side from Royal Portrush.

Powerful Portrush edge past Douglas for glory

Portrush got off to a bright start when Lucy Simpson recorded an early win over Aoife Lane. They moved further ahead when former international Gemma McClenaghan, who was involved in a tight affair with Karen O’Neill at the top of the order, got home at the 16th.

Helen Jones brought the trophy north for the fifth time in eight years with a 4&3 win over Ailish Thompson before current international Charlene Reid edged out Eavan Higgins with a birdie at the 18th. A final scoreline of 4½-½ in favour of the Ulster champions was confirmed when Maura Diamond and Kate MacCann were called in after 17 holes.

In the first of the morning semi-finals, Douglas secured the top three matches on the home green to defeat an experienced Laytown & Bettystown side. Karen O’Neill continued her impressive golf to defeat Alison Taylor at the top of the order, finishing the match with a birdie 3 at the 18th. Eavan Higgins and Kate McCann followed with wins, also on the 18th. Portrush were also faced with a tight semi-final match before defeating southern champions Lahinch.

Semi-finals – Douglas 3 Laytown & Bettysown 2 (Douglas names first): Karen O’Neill bt Alison Taylor 2 up; Eavan Higgins bt Carol Wickham 1 up; Kate McCann bt Phil O’Gorman 1 up; Aoife Lane halved with Barbara Cooney (called-in); Ailish Thompson halved with Noeline Quirke (called-in).

Royal Portrush 4 Lahinch 1 (Portrush names first): G. McClenaghan halved with S. Sexton (called in); C. Reid halved with L. Toomey (called in); N. Quigg bt O. Hayes 2&1; L. Simpson bt V. Hassett 3&2; H. Jones bt V. Shannon 7&6.

Final: Royal Portrush 4½ Douglas ½: McClenaghan bt O’Neill 4&2; Reid bt Higgins 1 hole; Diamond halved with MacCann (called in); Simpson bt Lane 6&5; Jones bt Thompson 4&3.

More in this section

Sport

Newsletter

Sign up to our daily sports bulletin, delivered straight to your inbox at 5pm. Subscribers also receive an exclusive email from our sports desk editors every Friday evening looking forward to the weekend's sporting action.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited