Hard luck to Amanda Lawless and all her Challenge Cup squad who bowed out of the competition this afternoon having been beaten by a very strong Delgany team.
It’s rare that a team can defend an All-Ireland title but the Challenge girls did themselves, and the club, proud this year as they attempted to do just that.
With three matches at home today and a good team named, Amanda must have thought we had a good chance but Delgany came with an equally good team and the golfing gods were on their side today.
In Delgany, Wendy Lee was three down at the halfway point despite having had a decent start and while she fought hard on the back nine it wasn’t to be her day and her match went to Delgany 4&3.
Second out away from home was Sile Mullin who turned one to the good and got to three ahead with wins on the tenth and eleventh holes. Sile had a bit of a wobble from the twelfth to the sixteenth after which she went one down with just two to play but she held her nerve and won seventeen and eighteen to win her match and level the tie at one all.
At home, Regina Connaghton was off like a train on the front nine, winning the first five holes before having a little break with a half on the sixth. She resumed normal service with wins on seven and eight. Nine went to Delgany but Regina was now six up after nine holes. From there Regina managed the match extremely well and a win on the fourteenth closed the match 6&4.
Linda Walsh had a great front nine and was three up heading for the tenth. Ten went to Delgany but Linda won eleven to restore her lead. At this point the Delgany player found her game with her short game being particularily good. Linda continued to play some excellent shots but, despite her best efforts the match went to Delgany 2&1.
It was a similar story for Grace Dodd, who has been magnificent throughout this years and last year’s campaigns. Grace was four up through nine but a better back nine, including some excellent chips and putts from her opponent sealed her match and the tie for Delgany.
Well done and hard luck to Amanda and the whole squad.
