Lurgan crowned Ulster champions

Despite a strong start which saw Fiona McGrady and Niamh Ward 3 up, and Bronagh McKavanagh and Annabel Wilson 2 up, after 4, by the time the matches reached the halfway point all matches were down.

However the ladies never gave up and Fiona and Niamh turned up the pressure from the 15th levelled after winning 16 with a birdie when Niamh chipped in from just off the green and won 17 with a par. This meant they went down the last 1 up and when their opponents hit the green in regulation to 5 feet the pressure was on Fiona McGrady but she was up to the task and hit a solid approach to 8 feet. Everyone held their breath as Niamh lined up her putt and the Ulster Girls Champion coolly slotted home to secure the first match.

In the second match Lynne Hanna and Niamh McSherry were always on the wrong end of the score and despite a strong fightback just lost out to level the tie. This meant team captain Bronagh and young Annabel Wilson had everything to play for. Bronagh and Annabel were 2 up playing 16 but lost it to come to 17 only 1 up. When their playing partners again found a bunker short left the pressure was very much on young Annabel who hit a beautiful shot pin high. Again Belvoir had problems with the bunker and after seeing one putt from Bronagh the hole was conceded.

This is a tremendous achievement for Bronagh and her team who played on the day, and, including Sian and Zoe who made a major contribution in previous matches. Bronagh’s mix of the young, and the young at heart, has been really successful and all the teams they have played in their long campaign have really had no answer to the golf they have been faced with. This is the fourth pennant the ladies have secured in the last two years and we wish them every success in making it five when they travel to Mullingar for the All-Ireland finals.