Delaney sets sights on three in a row

Carlow’s Tara Delaney sets out to capture an unprecedented third consecutive title at the Irish Open Strokeplay Championship in Rosses Point this weekend.

With a host of Irish senior and junior internationals on show, Delaney will have to be at her best if she is to retain the honours she won last year at Hermitage with a birdie three on the 18th that added to her eighth tie-hole win over Martina Gillen at Cork in 2004.

The 54-hole tournament has attracted an international field which includes Scottish, English and Australian internationals in addition to 17-year-old sensation Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) who was in sparkling form to capture the St. Rule Trophy in early June.

Recently-selected Curtis Cup stars Claire Coughlan (Cork), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) and Irish Champion Tricia Mangan (Ennis) will be her chief rivals over the 6096 yard seaside links.

Irish Under-21 and Under-18 Internationals will use the event as a lead in to their respective European Team Championships (11-15 July) while Castle Hume twins Lisa and Leona Maguire are sure to attract sizeable crowds over the Rosses Point links.

Play commences at 7.30am on Saturday morning with the overnight leaders due to tee off around 12 noon on Sunday.

7.30 & 12.30 (at 10 min intervals): Tara Delaney (Carlow) Claire Coughlan (Cork) Anne Laing (SCO); Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) Kylie Walker (SCO) Maura Morrin (The Curragh); Sinead Keane (The Curragh) Tricia Mangan (Ennis) Sunny Park (AUS); Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) Roseanne Niven (SCO) Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth); Krystle Caithness (SCO) Heather Nolan (Shannon) Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies); Fiona Carroll (Athenry) Sara Bishop (SCO) Marian Riordan (Tipperary); Gemma Webster (SCO) Maria Dunne (Skerries) Susanne Phillips (Woodbrook); Kate Combes (AUS) Jennifer Gannon (Co. Louth) Christine Armanasco (Enniscrone) Gillian O'Leary (Cork) Jacqueline Dittrich (GER) Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar)

09.00 & 14.00: Rebecca Wood (ENG) Karen Delaney (Carlow) Niamh Kitching (Claremorris); Catherine Tucker (Limerick) Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) Kate O'Sullivan (SCO); Emily Ogilvy (SCO) Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna) Suzie Hayes (Hermitage) Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) Elaine Cuthill (SCO) Sarah Faller (Galway); Lesley Hendry (SCO) Alex Howe (Royal Co Down Ladies) Maura Diamond (Royal Portrush); Mandy McEvoy (Bangor) Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) Jody Fleming (AUS); Tara Watters (ENG) Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) Naoimh Quigg (City of Derry); Emma Fairnie (SCO) Sarah Gallagher (Claremorris) Shauna McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies)

10.30 & 15.30: Siobhan McCartan (Greenore) Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) Jenna Kinnear (Belvoir Park); Krisztina Fodor (HUN) Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) Laura Holmes (Enniscrone) Orla Dunphy (Kilkenny) Mary McNally (The Curragh) Ailish McCartan (Greenore); Olivia Conroy (Co. Longford) Lisa Maguire (Castle Hume) Sally Casey (Seapoint); Jean Farrell (Youghal) Sarah Carty (The Island) Carmel Cahill (Hermitage); Aisling Parker (Greenore) Ruth Maguire (Corrstown) Katharine Oliver (ENG) Stella Richmond (Turvey) Orla Barry (Galway) Noreen Granard (Heritage) Sally-Anne Lenehan (Castle) Aedin Murphy (Carlow) Maura Rafferty (Co.Sligo) Leona Maguire (Castle Hume) Irene O'Donovan (Co.Sligo) Marie Sudway (Carton House)