Coffey on course for hat-trick

GOLF: Alison Coffey, who makes her Curtis Cup debut for Britain and Ireland against the United States in August, remained on course for a hat-trick of Lancome Irish Women's Close championship titles with two comfortable wins in yesterday's matchplay phase at Cork Golf Club, Little Island.

Of the four semi-finalists, Coffey is the only one to have won the national title, but there is an undoubted touch of quality about the remaining candidates for this year's title. Tricia Mangan, of Ennis, who will provide the opposition for Coffey in today's semi-final, showed her spirit by overcoming Una Marsden at the 19th in the second round, before going on to earn a comprehensive win against Marion Riordan in the quarter-final.

Rebecca Coakley, meanwhile, ousted former champion Eileen Rose Power in the morning and then continued her fine form with a 4 and 3 win over Donabate's Pat Doran to set up a semi-final encounter with US college student Martina Gillen, of Beaverstown.

Gillen had a scare in her second round with Mary Hayes when she needed to win the 18th to force a play-off, which she won at the first hole of sudden death.

SECOND ROUND

M Riordan (Tipperary) bt S Atkinson (Woodbrook) 6 and 5; T Mangan (Ennis) bt U Marsden (Tullamore) at 19th; M Dunne (Skerries) bt S Keane (Curragh) by 1 hole; A Coffey (Warrenpoint) bt Heather Nolan (Shannon) 2 and 1; M Gillen (Beaverstown) bt M Sheehy (Tralee) on 19th; D Smith (Co Louth) bt M Morrin (Curragh) 3 and 2; P Doran (Donabate) bt S Corcoran (Portumna) 2 and 1; R Coakley (Carlow) bt E R Power (Kilkenny) 3 and 2.

QUARTER-FINALS

Mangan bt Riordan 4 and 3; Coffey bt Dunne 7 and 6; Gillen bt Smith 4 and 3; Coakley bt Doran 4 and 3.

Semi-final draw: 9.00 - Mangan v Coffey; 9.09 - Gillen v Coakley.

Ita Wallace Trophy - Semi-finals: A Thompson (Douglas) bt S Gallagher (Claremorris) 5 and 3; S O' Sullivan (Galway) bt L Browne (Stackstown) 6 and 4. Final: O' Sullivan bt Thompson 4 and 3.