Sport

Munster rewarded with four places in Irish team

Munster's blend of youth and experience proved the perfect mixture when they won their first AIB- sponsored interprovincial title…

By Shay Keenan
Sat Aug 10 2002 - 01:00

Munster's blend of youth and experience proved the perfect mixture when they won their first AIB- sponsored interprovincial title in nine years with a 7½ to 3½ win over Connacht in the final series of games at Mount Wolseley Golf and Country Club yesterday.

And the reward for their first victory since 1993 was four of the winning side were selected on the Irish team for the home internationals at the Berkshire GC later this month.

Tricia Mannagn (Ennis), Heather Nolan (Shannon), Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) and Marian Riordan (Tipperary) were selected and they will be joined by Curtis Cup player Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Darragh McGowan (Athenry) and Sinead Keane from the Curragh.

"It is a good blend of the up-and- coming player and experience," said team captain Mary McKenna. "I'm looking forward with confidence that the Irish team can do well. The Berkshire has been a good venue for Irish teams in the past and hopefully it will be the same in two weeks' time."

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McGowan, Nolan and Riordan will be making their senior international debuts at the Berkshire. McGowan had an excellent interprovincial campaign taking 5½ points from six while playing number one for Connacht in both foursomes and singles. Nolan qualified for the matchplay stages of the British Girls' championship this week but went out in the first round.

Meanwhile there was never much doubt that the Interprovincial title was heading south after Munster took the morning foursomes 2-1.

"Strength in depth was the key to our success," said team captain Evelyn Hearn. "We had the experience and a mixture of youth, and they came up trumps over the three days. It was well worth the nine-year wait."

Although they lost the top match where Claire Coughlan and Mary Sheehy lost to Darragh McGowan and Ruth Lennon by one hole, Eileen Rose Power and Marian Riordan and the third pair of Tricia Mangan and Gillian O'Leary won to leave Munster needing just three points from the afternoon singles to secure the victory.

Coughlan halved the top match in a titanic struggle with unbeaten McGowan. All square after nine which McGowan won with a birdie two from five feet, Coughlan went two up with wins at the 13th and 14th and was still one ahead after 17 thanks to a monster 30-foot putt. But the gritty McGowan squared the match with a par at the last.

However the Munster victories were not long in coming. Mangan beat Michelle Holmes two up and Riordan - level after nine - beat Ruth Lennon 2 and 1.

Mary Sheehy turned five up on her way to a 4 and 3 win over Rita McGoldrick and Gillian O'Leary was always ahead against Sara Gallagher in winning 5 and 4.

Leinster, winners for the past eight years, were always in control against Ulster after taking all three foursomes on their way to a 9½ to 1½ overall success.

Carlow sisters Tara and Karen Delaney, who played in the British Girls' championship this week, have been selected to represent the ILGU in the British Strokeplay championship at Hunstanton GC on September 11th to 13th. They will be joined by Maura Morris from the Curragh and Alison Coffey on the four-person team.

IRELAND: A Coffey (Warrenpoint), M Gillen (Beaverstown), S Keane (Curragh), T Mangan (Ennis), D McGowan (Athenry), H Nolan (Shannon), E R Power (Kilkenny), M Riordan (Tipperary). Reserves: C Coughlan (Cork), M Dunne (Skerries), T Delaney (Carlow). Team captain: Mary McKenna (Donabate); manager: Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange).

MUNSTER 7½ CONNACHT 3½ - Foursomes: Claire Coughlan and Mary Sheehy lost to Darragh Mc Gowan and Ruth Lennon 1up, Eileen Rose Power and Marian Riordan bt Suzanne Corcoran and Michelle Holmes 2/1, Tricia Mangan and Gillian O' Leary bt Deirdre Judge and Sarah Gallagher 3/1 (Munster 2 Connacht 1). Singles: Claire Coughlan halved with Darragh Mc Gowan, Tricia Mangan bt Michelle Holmes 2up, Marian Riordan bt Ruth Lennon 2/1, Eileen Rose Power halved with Suzanne Corcoran, Mary Sheehy bt Rita Mc Goldrick 4/3, Sheila Galvin halved with Tara de Courcey, Gillian O' Leary bt Sarah Gallagher 5/4, Bridget Gleeson Healy lost to Deirdre Judge 6/5 (Munster 5½ Connacht 2½).

LEINSTER 9½ ULSTER 1½ - Foursomes: Jenny Gannon and Sinead Keane bt Helen Jones and Naoimh Quigg 1up, Martina Gillen and Sue Philips bt Caroline Smyth and Jill Mc Auley 7/6, Mary Dowling and Deirdre Smith bt Emma Dickson and Gemma Hegarty 4/3 (Leinster 3 Ulster 0); singles: Sinead Keane bt Helen Jones 3/2, Martina Gillen lost to Emma Dickson 2/1, Sue Phillips bt Naoimg Quigg 2/1, Maria Dunne bt Caroline Smyth 6/4, Mary Dowling bt Gemma Hegarty 6/4, Deirdre Smith bt Jill Mc Auley 6/5, Maura Morrin bt Brenda Mc Larnon 2/1, Jenny Gannon and Nikki Moore halved match due to withdrawal of Moore because of illness (Leinster 6½ Ulster ½).