Kilrea Ladies have their eyes on All-Ireland glory

KILREA Golf Club ladies have gone one step further than last year by reaching the All-Ireland finals of the AA Insurance sponsored Championship.

Under the very capable leadership of team captain, Bridie McCloskey, the Challenge Cup squad have successfully survived six gruelling rounds to date. En route they have encountered very stiff competition from Royal Portrush GC, Ardglass GC, Holywood GC, Ballycastle GC, Portstewart GC followed by Kilkeel GC in the Ulster Final.

The ladies will now represent Ulster in the All-Ireland finals to be held at Donabate GC at the end of September. There will be five golfing regions playing which means that the ladies will have another three matches to win before being crowned All-Ireland Champions. Their opponents will be drawn from Bandon GC, Mullingar GC, Ballina GC and Dun Laoghaire GC.

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By playing a nine-hole course Kilrea GC does not have a big membership in comparison to many of the 18-hole Clubs. But this has not in any way hampered their success across all the handicap ranges.

Last year the club’s Junior Foursomes squad reached the AA Insurance Ulster Final; Helen Calderwood, Hazel Calderwood and Catherine O’Donnell earned a team slot in the AIB Irish Ladies Pro-am at Portmarnock GC, while Sandra Millar and Catherine O’Donnell reached the Irish Mail All-Ireland 4BBB finals at Macreddin GC.

This year the Junior Foursomes squad had another successful run in the AA Insurance championships, Catherine and Sandra reached the All-Ireland quarter final stage of the Irish Mail All-Ireland trophy while Annemarie Donaghy and Susanna McAteer competed in the All-Ireland Finals of the Australian Spoons competition.

Lady captain, Teresa Henry is quite rightly very proud of all the ladies. It has been a great year for her as she is also one of the playing members of the Challenge Cup team. Her ‘no nonsense’ approach to play will keep her opponents on their toes.

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Rosemary McCamphill who has many years of matchplay experience will give the team the steadying confidence needed.

Kathleen Doherty, one of the three players relatively new to the sport has registered a clean sheet this year en route to the final. Cathleen Henry has the unenviable honour of teeing off first in each match – no easy feat. She has only been playing for a couple of years but leads by example and will set the pace for the rest of the team.

This is Marie Therese Bradley‘s first year playing competitive golf. The words ‘duck taking to water’ seem very appropriate especially in some of the weather conditions they have had to play in this year. She will provide the adrenalin to drive on the team and excite the supporters.

Sara McNicholl completes the playing line-up. Like Teresa and Rosemary she is well versed in matchplay and will play a determined and steady game. Her opponents will need to watch out for her as she never gives up no matter what the deficit.

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The topping on the cake is team captain Bridie McCloskey. Kilrea has a history of producing great team managers – soccer has Martin O’Neill and golf has Bridie McCloskey!

Bridie makes life easy for everyone whether it is making match arrangements or raising sponsorship. Her enthusiasm if bottled could make a fortune. She instils confidence and a sense of calmness amongst her players and goes to great lengths to ensure that no pressure is put on them. Quite rightly her view is to take one game at a time, do your best and above all else enjoy the experience. We wish the Ladies all the best in their All-Ireland quest.

In these tough economic times money is not easily come by. The club is indebted to the team sponsors - Kestrel Thermoplastics, Kilrea, Carhill Car Sales, Garvagh and The Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone. Please lend your support to these companies.

The team also thank the club’s Ladies and Men’s sections for their donations and to another very generous sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous.