Fading light ensures thrilling finals will be decided today

MOTHER NATURE was the big winner as darkness descended and left two thrilling finals hanging in the balance until this morning in the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals at Malone.

Lee Valley were crowned AIG Minor Cup champions but Killarney, Roscommon, Carton House and Cahir Park will have to wait until today to find out if they have won an All-Ireland pennant after a dramatic third day.

The AIG Senior Cup and Intermediate Cup finals were suspended until 10am today due to lack of light as they headed down the 21st and 23rd holes.

As their Munster sisters were left in suspense, Lee Valley beat Mountbellew 4-1 to claim the Minor Cup and their third All-Ireland in five years.

In the AIG Intermediate Cup final, Carton House and Cahir Park were tied 2-2 and after both Patricia Browne and Ann McQuillan missed chances for victory at the 19th and 20th there was still no winner after four extra holes.

With rain falling in the gathering gloom, the managers agreed to suspend play and continue the match on the 23rd today.

It was just as dramatic in the AIG Senior Foursomes, which was deadlocked at 1-1 with the final match between Killarney’s Rosemary and Paula Quinn and Roscommon’s Eimear O’Donnell and Amy Arthur suspended after 20 holes.

Winners of the Irish Senior Cup in August, Killarney were aiming for their second national pennant of the year against a Roscommon side playing their first All-Ireland final.

The day ended up as a major anti-climax for the supporters and spectators watching the tie holes and also for Connacht club Mountbellew, who went to Malone with hopes of a triple crown and came away empty-handed. Following the Intermediate Cup side’s defeat in the quarter-finals on Wednesday and yesterday’s Minor Cup final defeat to Lee Valley, all hope rested on their Challenge Cup team’s semi-final clash with Fintona.

However, they went down 4-1 to the Tyrone ladies who now go on to face Malahide, who were 3.5-1.5 winners over Doneraile, in today’s final.

In the AIG Junior Cup, Limerick beat Stackstown 3-2 and will face Athenry in today’s final after they cruised to a 4-1 win over Royal Curragh.

In the AIG Junior Foursomes semi-finals, Ballykisteen beat Woodbrook 2-1 and now face Portumna, 3-0 winners over The Heath.