Matchplay thrills

Diarmuid Murray from Foxrock and Louise Harris of Slade Valley are the new holders of the ACC Bank mixed matchplay trophy after an exciting week's golf at Elm Park. In the final Murray and Harris beat the last surviving Elm Park player, Seamus Ryan, and Joyce Lambe from Kilkenny 2 and 1. However, Friday's quarter-finals provided the most exciting round, as two matches went to tie holes. Ryan and Lambe had to go to the 20th to beat Des and Lily Malone from Greystones while Chris and Clare Keegan went to the 21st to overcome the challenge of the Elm Park vice captain, Padraic O'Gaora and Marie Conway. Des O'Reilly and Moira Cassidy won on the 18th against Tony and Claire Goode but lost in the semi-final to Ryan and Lambe.