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.

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.