Orla Delaney and her Boyne Trophy team took on Lucan this afternoon in the second round of the competition. Orla had made a number of changes today to the team that beat Rathfarnham last month.
First out were Joyce Kirwan & Niamh Kielthy. Niamh didn’t play in the last match but Joyce won last time out when playing with Deirdre Ahern. Niamh & Joyce played well but the visitors were slightly tighter on the front front nine and were two up at the halfway point. On the back nine Joyce and Niamh started strongly, winning the first two holes to square the match and it was nip and tuck from there to the fifteenth which went to Lucan. Holes were traded from there with Greystones winning the eighteenth to take the match up the nineteenth. A great response from Niamh and Joyce.
Second out were Jennifer Moore & Anne O’Rourke. This was another new pairing with Aine coming in for Margaret McGirr on this occasion to play with Jennifer. Both Jennifer and Aine are both in great match form these days and there was signs of this when the went into a three hole lead after four holes. A loss on the ninth had the match at two up for Greystones at half way but wins on ten and eleven and Jennifer & Aine looked to be well in control at four up. Twelve went to Lucan but wins on thirteen and fourteen closed the match out 5&4 for Greystones. Another great performance from both players.
Our third pair today was that of Mary Hutch & Sandra Cotter. This pair had played away in Rathfarnham last time and had been beaten. Orla brought them home to play in Greystones for today’s match and they didn’t let her down. A string of wins from three through seven laid the ground work for an excellent front nine – five up heading for the tenth tee-box. From there it was a case of not letting the opposition get any foothold and Mary and Sandra certainly didn’t allow that to happen. They sealed the deal on thirteen with a half and without losing a hole during the match – 6&5.
Away from home, Orla had a completely new pair out first. President Marguerite Hamill was paired with Anne Browner who had won her Challenge Cup match last week so well. Despite going one down after two Marguerite and Anne were two up through eight after wins on three, four and eight. Nine was halved before the Greystones pair made another little run with wins on ten, eleven and twelve. The die was now cast and despite a loss on thirteen Marguerite and Anne closed out the match with a half on fifteen by a 4&3 margin.
Our final pairing in Lucan today was that of Iris Haughton and another Challenge Cup winner from last week, Grace Dodd. Iris and Grace were playing well but in a tough match. They lost the first but responded with a win on the second and holes were halved from there to the fifth. A loss on seven was chalked off with an immediate win on the eighth. From this point Iris and Grace took control, winning nine, ten and eleven to get to three up and were still there up with just four to play when they were called in on fourteen.
Niamh and Joyce were called in as they headed for the twentieth.
An excellent performance and a comprehensive win for Orla and the team – congratulations to all involved.
