Lahinch claimed their third AIG Women’s Senior Cup title in four years after overcoming Douglas Golf Club in an all-Munster affair.
At a sun-drenched Tramore Golf Club, the Clare side – who were beaten finalists last year – held off the Cork club’s challenge to reclaim their crown as the top side in women’s golf.
Winning captain Aideen McCarthy, whose brother Larry is the current president of the GAA, admitted that it may take a few hours for victory to settle in.
‘Relief. I suppose huge relief is the biggest emotion right now,’ she said, ‘after three very busy days and three tough matches. We had Royal County Down on Friday, Dún Laoghaire on Saturday and then Douglas today, and Douglas have been great rivals of ours over the years, always giving us a very tight match.’
Lahinch took commanding leads in the early stages of the first and final matches, but Douglas’ Aoife Ni Thuama took a three-hole lead on Niamh O’Dwyer in the third match with those either side tight throughout.
O’Dwyer would battle back to level the match with a 17th hole birdie before going on to clinch the match and title on the 18th.
‘I just had to battle and battle and I managed to drag myself back and tie it up,’ a beaming O’Dwyer admitted, ‘then, you know, anything can happen on the 18th.’
Niamh O'Dwyer adds a 3rd point to those already in the bag from Aideen Walsh and Sarah Cunningham meaning @LahinchGolfClub are AIG Women's Senior Cup Champions once again!🏆
more to follow
RESULTS: https://t.co/73k0Pi5vKx @AIGIreland pic.twitter.com/EjR8JnBZed
— Golf Ireland (@GolfIreland_) September 4, 2022
RESULTS
AIG Women’s Senior Cup Final
Douglas 1 – 4 Lahinch (Douglas names first): Clodagh Coughlan lost to Aideen Walsh 3&1, Karen O’Neill lost to Sarah Cunningham 2&1, Aoife Ni Thuama lost to Niamh O’Dwyer 1UP, Jemma Barry halved with Olivia Lucas, Jessica Kavanagh halved with Jenny Hennessy.