The Short Game

Today's other news in brief

Irish team hopeful

The Irish Women's Golf Team travel to Scotland this week for the Women's Home Internationals, that commence at Dunbar Golf Club outside Edinburgh tomorrow, with hopes high that they can improve on last year's second place finish behind England.

"In spite of losing Tricia Mangan through retirement and Claire Coughlan and Martina Gillen to the professional ranks, this year's side have both the strength and depth to do well at Dunbar," said ILGU chief executive Sinead Heraty. "The release of Irish Champion Karen and her sister Tara Delaney from US College commitments will certainly boost the side."

Indeed, Ireland are well equipped to inflict some defeats on the Home Unions this week with the Delaneys and Marian Riordan (Tipperary) all showing promising form of late. Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) will look to continue her recent heroics following her gold medal- winning performance at the World University Games in Thailand. Victoria Bradshaw from Bangor comes in for the injured Deirdre Smith.

Gillian O'Leary (Cork) makes a welcome return to the International squad while Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) add strength and depth to a side capable of defeating any International side.

England will be looking to secure a hat-trick of victories and will be ably led by Curtis Cup stars Melissa Reid and Naomi Edwards when they take on Wales, led by the experienced Breanne Loucks, tomorrow morning. Scotland, reeling from last year's Wooden Spoon performance, are adopting a youthful strategy and include under-18 starlets Carly Booth, Kelsey McDonald and Megan Briggs in their bid to capture the Miller Trophy.

IRELAND: Karen Delaney (Carlow), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor).

Tullamore's title

Tullamore are the 2007 FBD-sponsored Barton Cup winners following their 7-3 win over former champions Cill Dara. The Offaly Club took a 5-0 lead into Cill Dara for the second leg of the final and made a great start by winning the first three holes in the top match but Cill Dara answered by taking matches two and three early where Christy Roche and Kit Harhen beat Colm Cassidy and Joe Morris followed by Pat Doyle and James Dunne's 4 and 3 win over Eoin Flanagan and Jerome O'Rourke. However, despite a gallant effort by Cill Dara, Sean Flanagan and Noel Mannion held on to win on the 18th against Rory Cleary and Pat Hopkins and ensure victory for the first time since 1976. The other members of the Tullamore team were Larry Larkin, Morgan Byrne, Dave Hughes and John O'Shea.

Doran in team

Dunmurry's Darren Crowe has withdrawn from Ireland's team for the Home Internationals at Co Louth Golf Club on September 19th to 21st.

The South of Ireland Champion has failed to recover from a back injury sustained last month and will be replaced by fellow Ulsterman Connor Doran (Banbridge) who recently captured the Rosapenna Scratch Cup from a strong field which included all six members of Ireland's successful team in the European Team Championship at Western Gailes.

IRELAND: Cian Curley (Newlands), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Connor Doran (Banbridge), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Joe Lyons (Galway), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Pat Murray (Limerick), Neil O'Briain (Royal Dublin), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh), Simon Ward (Co Louth). Captain: Michael Burns (Tramore).

Back to defend title

Local girl Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) will defend her under-19 Girls Scratch Trophy at Seapoint Golf Club on Saturday next. The 18 hole tournament is open to all girls under-19 years of age on January 1st, 2007. An ample number of gross prizes will be awarded and also a best Under-15 prize. Last year's Under-15 title holder Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) is once again lining out in a field that boasts a number of current under-18 internationals. The field is restricted to the first 50 entries and to enter contact Seapoint Golf Club at 041-9822333 or download an entry form at www.ilgu.ie

Skerries take cup

Skerries put their name on the McDonnell Cup for the sixth time when they beat newcomers Roganstown in the two-leg final last week.

Skerries, managed by John O'Callaghan and Mick Goss, took full advantage of playing at home in the first leg to open a 6-1 lead. However, they had to fight all the way at Roganstown before Noel McLoughlin and Ronan Barrett secured the winning point against Gerry McGeogh and Garrett O'Neill.

The winning Skerries team were: Peter Counihan, Clem Cunningham, Joe Tuite, Andy Kennedy, Paul Murray, Eddie Roche, Cyril Delaney, Noel McLoughlin, Ronan Barrett, Pat Loughman, Declan Bowers, Billy and Jonathon Duff, Tony Morley, Gerry Jordan, Michael Weldon, Ronnie Hopkins, John O'Leary, Brendan McDermott, Michael Gorman and John McGuirk.

Pennant up for grabs

The finals of the inaugural Miele All-Ireland Women's Fourball Championship get underway at Mount Juliet this weekend when 32 women golfers tee off with high hopes of claiming a national green pennant for their club.

This year's National Fourball competition has flourished with over two and a half thousand golfers from across the north, east, south and west taking part. Eastern Region winners The K Club, having defeated Dublin City, will face Mountbellew, victors over Birr in the Western Finals.

The K Club will be keen to continue their victorious run, having claimed the Australian Spoons in Naas recently, while Mountbellew will look to add to their recent Junior Interclub Championship success at Westport.

Having dispatched Letterkenny in the Northern Finals, Co Armagh will face a strongly fancied Mallow who ended Thurles's run in the Southern decider.

Order of Play - Semi-finals - Saturday, September 15th - 1.20-1.50: Co Armagh v Mallow; 2.0-2.30: Mountbellew v The K Club. Finals: Sunday, September 16th 1.40-2.10.

Eagle at Deer Park

A little bit of women's golfing history was made at Deer Park golf club last Wednesday when the first recorded eagle at the difficult 381 metres par five 18th hole was secured by none other than the Lady Captain Bernie Walsh. Playing in the Invitation Day Fourball with Breda Swan of nearby Howth, 21 handicapper Walsh holed out with her third shot played with a 7 wood, an effort which was good enough to propel them to fourth place overall.

The competition itself was won by Ann Guiney and Gillian O'Brien, a member of Sutton, with 41 points. They beat Una Glynn (21) and Brid Reynolds (18, Howth) on a countback, with Noeleen Reid and Ursula Crosbie (Howth) third on 40 points. But all the talk was of the Lady Captain's historic eagle.

Delaney in form

Carlow's Tara Delaney found her best form in the third and final round of the Mary Fossum Invitation over the Michigan State University's Forest Akers West Course last week. Delaney, struggling after opening rounds of 80 and 78, settled down in the third round to shoot level par 72 that included 16 pars, a birdie at the 10th and just one bogey at the 11th to finish in 19th place in the individual event. Delaney's performance helped her university, Kent State, to finish joint second with Indiana to winners Michigan

Murphy on the up

The rise and rise of 28-year-old Esme Murphy in Dublin City Golf Club has been matched only by the fall and fall of her handicap. Having joined the Ballinascorney located club in 2005, after a successful international hockey background, she has notched up a string of successes in her fledgling golf career.

In 2006, beginning on a handicap of 24, she won an amazing four monthly medals and all the ladies club matchplays as well as the mixed match play. She ended the year on a handicap of 11.4.

This year so far, she has won another medal, the Dublin City Ladies Open, the O2 qualifier plus many other prizes and currently holds a handicap of eight. The talented woman is definitely on her way to bigger and better things.