Over three weekends in September and October, four regional finals were decided in this year’s Revive Active Women’s Four-Ball, with Shandon Park, Carton House, Loughrea and Kanturk emerging as champions.
The first of the regional finals took place on September 21, as Balmoral Golf Club hosted the Ulster decider between Carrickfergus and Shandon Park.
The tie saw Shandon Park take an early lead in Matches 1 and 4 with Lorraine McCaffrey & Kathie Edwards and Nicci Wilson & Marge Campbell securing 5&4 and 6&4 victories respectively, before Aoife Bradley & Lorna Thompson sealed the title with another comprehensive 5&4 win in Match 3.
Team player/captain Pauline Maguire and her side claimed the trophy and the blue pennant in a special moment for the club as it builds toward its centenary celebrations in 2026.
Shandon Park celebrating their win (Image: ©INPHO/Tom Maher)
The action then moved south to Balbriggan Golf Club for the Leinster Final, where Carton House faced St. Margaret’s.
It proved to be another commanding display as the Kildare side produced a 3.5–0.5 victory over their Dublin opponents.
Judith Whelan and Alex Cunningham combined for a 2&1 victory in Match 1, Sinead Keane and Jennifer Finnegan claimed a 5&3 win in Match 2 before Aoife Lyons and Geraldine O’Leary sealed the vital point with an impressive 5&4 result in Match 3.
While the other regional finals were decided in a single day at neutral venues, the Connacht decider once again would take place across two legs, with Bearna and Loughrea meeting at their respective home courses.
The first leg took place in Loughrea on September 21, where the home side established an early advantage thanks to victories from Mary O’Loughlin and Cathy Glynn (6&5), Chris Greally and Helen Shaughnessy (7&5), and Marie Kelly and Síobhan Glynn (4&3). That gave Loughrea a two-point cushion heading into the return leg in Bearna.
Storm Amy forced the second leg to be postponed until October 12, but the delay did nothing to slow Loughrea’s momentum. Marie Kelly and Cathy Glynn took the opening match 4&3, and despite a spirited comeback from Bearna in Matches 2 and 3, the pairing of Marie Hannon Healy and Síobhan Glynn secured the crucial half point that sealed a 4.5–3.5 overall victory and the Connacht pennant for Loughrea.
Loughrea team winners of Connacht Revive Active Women’s Four Ball Area Final (Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane)
October 12 would also see the Munster Final go down for decision in Clare as Tramore took on Kanturk in Ennis Golf Club.
The Waterford team took the early advantage as Elis Strappe and Bernie Mockler claimed victory in Match 1, but Kanturk came storming back.
Wins for Eilish O’Connor and Nuala Meade (1H), Fidelma O’Connor and Mary Fitzpatrick (2&1), Bernie O’Connor and Kate O’Brien (1H), and Trudy Brosnan and Helen Mackessy (3&2) sealed a 4–1 triumph for the Cork club and sparked jubilant celebrations.
Caption: Kanturk, winners of the Revive Active Munster Women’s Four-Ball Regional Final at Ennis Golf Club (Image: @Inpho | Tom Maher)
For full results and further information on the Revive Active Women’s Four-Ball Regional Finals, visit the Inter-Club Hub here
