The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Joe Quinlan title for Ballybunion ladies
THE Ladies of Ballybunion Golf Club won the Joe Quinlan Foursomes title for the second time on Thursday last beating Killarney by the odd match in three, in cold, wet, and windy conditions at Tralee.
Killarney seeking their first win in this event, got off to the better start, taking the first match but the 2014 champions Ballybunion claimed the next two to win their second title.
In the top match Killarney’s Mary Geaney (12) and Maureen Cullotty (31) took on Eleanor O’Sullivan (21) and Marion Flannery (26) and the Killarney ladies got the better start leading by five holes at the turn, a lead Ballybunion were unable to claw back in spite of receiving shots at the 10th and 12th as the game ended on the sixteenth in favour of Killarney.
The third match was put to bed early on as Ballybunion’s pairing of Toni Quilter (18) and Mary Whelan (31) turned four up against Shelia Crowley (21) and Anne O’Leary (25) before winning the next three holes to close the game out by 7/6 leaving the overall outcome on the result of second match.
Pudge O’Reilly (19) and Margaret McAuliffe (28) of Ballybunion took on Sally Cooper (20) and Helen Howard (24) in this one and it was a much tighter game in the early stages than the other two as Ballybunion turned two up before going on to win by 4/3 to claim the title as the tough weather conditions on a links course probably favoured Ballybunion on the day.
The presentation dinner followed in the Tralee clubhouse with guests that included Martha Corcoran, Lady President of Tralee Golf Club, Margaret Murphy, Lady Captain of Tralee Golf Club, Norah Quinlan, niece of the late Joe Quinlan and Angela Deenihan, co-ordinator of the Tournament.
Mary Leacy, the Killarney Team Manager thanked her Team for their commitment, and thanked her assistant manager Ursula Daly for all her help, congratulated her Lady President Breda Duggan on the success of the Ladies Branch this year and had some special thanks for the other members of the Killarney Panel, Winnie Ryan, Angela Kelliher, Noreen O’Mahony and Maura Fitzgerald
Norah Quinlan presented the Joe Quinlan Trophy and Pennant to Ballybunion team manager Norma McKeon. Norma was thrilled to receive the Trophy, she congratulated both Teams and asked to convey good wishes and a special message of gratitude to Betty Quinlan wife of the late Joe.
She also had a special word of thanks for Sighle Henigan and June Hayes who were part of the Ballybunion Panel while both Team Managers remarked on the friendly and sporting manner in which all matches were conducted.