Irish Ladies Golf Union Press Release

ULSTER FAVOURITES FOR FOUR-IN-A-ROW
UNDER-18 INTER-PROVINCIAL TITLE

Ulster look to capture their fourth successive Under-18 Inter-provincial title when the three-day tournament is played from March 26 to 28 at Bangor Golf Club, Co. Down.
The defending champions once again look the strongest of the four sides as they field five players from last year’s successful line-up. Victoria Bradshaw, playing on home soil, is joined again by 13-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) who will have just returned from action in the French U-21 championship at St Cloud Golf Club.
The only newcomer to last year’s squad in US student Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), last year’s Irish girls’ (closed) runner-up, who makes a welcome return to the Ulster underage squad.
Nearest challengers Munster also field five from last year’s team with U18 Internationals Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) and Holli Snelling (Tralee) hoping to lead their side to victory on Friday afternoon.
Connacht field four players from last year’s team and will need things to go their way if they are to regain the title they surrendered to Ulster in 2005. Leinster’s Niamh O’Connor (Naas) and Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) are the only survivors from last year’s team and the side will need to punch well above their weight to make an impact in this year’s Championship.
This year’s tournament takes place on the challenging parkland at Bangor and with a par 73 track over 6,052 yards, Friday’s winners will be worthy champions of this highly competitive opener to the 2008 season.
Fixtures:
Wednesday, 26th March
09.00 & 13.30 CONNACHT –v- LEINSTER
09.18 & 14.28 MUNSTER –v- ULSTER

Thursday, 27th March
09.00 & 13.30 ULSTER –v- LEINSTER
09.20 & 14.30 MUNSTER -v- CONNACHT

Friday, 28th March
08.30 & 13.00 LEINSTER –v- MUNSTER
08.48 & 13.58 CONNACHT –v- ULSTER
Teams
CONNACHT – Regina Kerr (capt). Sarah Helly (Enniscrone), Leah Kerr (Castlebar), Aisling O’Connor (Co. Sligo), Carmel O'Connor (Westport), Hannah O'Connor (Loughrea), Julie O'Gara (Roscommon).
Reserves: Daryl Conroy (Castlebar), Amy Gaynor (Co. Sligo).
LEINSTER – Sinead Keane (capt). Patrice Delaney (Birr), Caroline Murphy (Grange), Rebecca Mulholland (Kilkenny), Niamh O'Connor (Naas), Carla Reynolds (Seapoint), Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy)
Reserves: Laura Boylan (Skerries), Anna Courtney (St. Annes).
MUNSTER – Maura Breathnach (capt). Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Ciara Pender (Ennis), Holli Snelling (Tralee).
Reserves: Hannah O’Brien (Lahinch), Jill Pierse (Ballykisteen)
ULSTER – Brenda Strain (capt). Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor), Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), Caoimhe Quinn (Dungannon), Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea)
Reserves: Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint), Agnes Doherty (Ballyliffen)