Maguire twins still on course

IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE:SLIEVE RUSSELL twins Lisa and Leona Maguire are on course to meet in the final of the Lancôme Irish Women's Close Championship at Westport Golf Club today.

In this morning's semi-finals Lisa takes on Greencastle's Gemma Hegarty, while sister Leona faces Ashbourne's Dawn Marie Conaty.

Leading qualifier Lisa started the day with an impressive 5 and 4 win over current international Gillian O'Leary from Cork.

One down through six holes, Lisa hit a purple patch with birdies at the eighth, 10th and 11th holes to close out the match on the 14th. She then went on to beat Mary Dowling from New Ross 3 and 1 in the quarter-final.

Leona, however, after a crushing 9 and 8 win over Carla Reynolds from Seapoint, had to call on all her reserves before seeing off the challenge of Ballybofey's Darragh McGowan.

Leona seemed to be cruising to victory when she held a four-hole advantage through 13 holes.

But McGowan struck back and won the 14th, 15th and 16th holes. The 17th was halved, but Maguire held her nerve to win on the 18th.

Hegarty created a stir against home favourite Niamh Kitching from Claremorris. Hegarty came from four down after 13 holes and proceeded to win the next five in a row, winning on the 18th green in front of a large gallery.

Jenny Gannon was equally impressive in defeating the fancied Tara Delaney from Carlow 3 and 1 in the second round, but found Hegarty a different proposition in the quarter-final.

Hegarty took command early on with birdies at the third, fourth and eighth holes on her way to a 5 and 4 win over the Co Louth Senior Cup player.

Conaty, from Ashbourne, had a marvellous 8 and 7 victory over Tullamore's Una Marsden and was the first to secure her place in the semi-finals.

Conaty played only 24 holes for the two rounds yesterday after beating Ann Marie Dalton from Coollattin earlier in the day. Birdies at the first and fourth helped her to turn three up before winning the match on the 13th.

Catherine Tucker from Limerick won the Ita Wallace Trophy, defeating Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 2 and 1 in the final.