Carlow Ladies win Leinster Central Minor Foursomes
The AIG Women’s Minor Foursomes Leinster Central Final - Deirdre Nolan (Captain), Madeline Brennan (Assistant Manager), Michele Nolan, Bernie O’Halloran, Miriam Murray, Aileen Burns, Leigh Bolger (Manager), Catherine O’Byrne, Olive Bowden, Martha Murphy, Mary Lennon, Lorna Elmes, Joan Corcoran and President Mary Farrell.
Carlow won the AIG Women’s Minor Foursomes Leinster Central Final in Waterford on Saturday when they dug deep to take the title in a thrilling finale by 2½ to 1½. At one stage they were behind in all four matches but in a tense finish which went to the very last hole, they emerged triumphant.
Down the finishing stretch, the pair of Catherine O’Byrne and Olive Bowden secured a valuable 1/2 point. Not for the first time on their way to the final Mary Lennon and Martha Murphy secured a vital win on the eighteenth hole.
The spotlight fell on Miriam Murray and Bernie O’Halloran. Five down earlier on, they had staged a mini-comeback but with four holes to play a Carlow win still looked remote when they trailed by three.
Showing tremendous resolve they won the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to set up a tense finish. An excellent drive by Murray on the 18th handed the initiative to her playing partner and O’Halloran made no mistake when her second shot came up just short of the green. With their opponents in bunker trouble, Carlow turned the screw and to the cheers of the large crowd of Carlow supporters, Murray and O’Halloran, with two putts for the title, saw out the match for a superb victory.
Accepting the Leinster Pennant on behalf of the team, manager, Leigh Bolger, made a heartfelt tribute to the team acknowledging the commitment and contribution of the entire panel.
Carlow now play the Connacht champions in the All-Ireland quarter-finals in Thurles on 29 August.
