Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

EILEEN ROSE POWER KOs MARY McKENNA

IN BATTLE OF PAST IRISH CHAMPIONS

Leading qualifier Tara Delaney (Carlow) safely negotiated Charlotte Crowe’s challenge to make it through to the last 16 at the Lancôme Irish women's (close) championship at Lahinch in Co. Clare today.
Delaney, attempting to add her first Irish close match-play title to her brace of Irish open stroke-plays, was once again comfortably in control of her game in blustery conditions. She now faces up-and-coming Holli Snelling (Killarney).

Current internationals Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth) and Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) also advanced, the latter just edging through on the home green after a nail-biting encounter with Woodenbridge rookie Louise Mernagh.
Defending champion Tricia (Mangan) McDonnell (Ennis), pictured above, overcame a gutsy display from Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) while Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) ended the hopes of Mary McKenna (Donabate) adding to her hatful of titles.

Twelve-year-old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) suffered different fates in their first-round encounters. Lisa continued her impressive form by ending the hopes of Irish junior international Vicki Power (Dundalk) on the 15th green while Leona was unlucky to lose out at the first extra hole to US collegiate Karen Delaney (Carlow).

Match of the day saw current international Sinead O’Sullivan find the bottom of the cup from over 40ft to halve the 19th hole with ever-improving Karen O’Neill (Douglas). O’Sullivan then drew on all of her experience to edge out her formidable opponent at the 20th.Sixteen continue to contest the championship over the next two days with the winner emerging on Wednesday afternoon.

The four provinces are each represented in the semi-final line-up of the Ita Wallace Trophy for non-qualifiers. This concludes tomorrow afternoon.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

FIRST ROUND
Tara Delaney (Carlow) bt Charlotte Crowe (Tipperary) 3&1.

Holli Snelling (Killarney) bt Ciara Butler (Newlands) 3&1.

Maura Morrin (The Curragh) bt Jennifer Gannon (Co Louth) 4&3.

Mary Dowling (New Ross) bt Orla Barry (Galway) 5&4.

Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) bt Valerie Hassett (Ennis) 4&3.

Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) bt Vivienne Houston (City of Derry) 5&4.

Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) at 19th.

Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) bt Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) 1 hole.

Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) bt Vicki Power (Brampton Park) 5&3.

Catherine Tucker (Limerick) bt Margaret Hayes (Tralee) 2&1.

Maria Dunne (Skerries) bt Gertie McMullen (The Island) 5&3.

Sinead Keane (The Curragh) bt Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew) 8&6.

Marian Riordan (Tipperary) bt Ann Marie Dalton (Coollattin) 3&2.

Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) bt Mary McKenna (Donabate) 3&2.
Tricia McDonnell (Ennis) bt Gemma Hegarty (Greencastle) 2 holes.

Sinead O'Sullivan (Galway) bt Karen O'Neill (Douglas) at 20th

ITA WALLACE TROPHY

QUARTER-FINALS

Darragh McGowan (Ballybofey & Stranorlar) bt Shauna O'Brien (Clonmel) 7&6.

Anne McCormack (Roscommon) bt Yvonne Daly-Ryan (Tipperary) 4&3.

Sarah Carty (The Island) bt Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange) 5&4.

Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) bt Ailish McCartan (Greenore) 1 hole.

Ann Geoghegan (Athlone) bt Hannah McInerney (Gort) 2&1.

Helen Jones (Strabane) bt Sandra Atkinson (Woodbrook) 2&1
Jean Farrell (Youghal) bt Anna O’Brien(Athlone) 5&4.

Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) beat Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) 4&3.