Sport

Milltown do it the hard way

AS THEY preach in another sporting code, "nobody said it would be easy"

Tue Jul 01 1997 - 01:00

AS THEY preach in another sporting code, "nobody said it would be easy". And Milltown, who claimed their 15th ILGU Irish Senior Cup at Glasson on Sunday, will vouch for that sentiment after ending the Woodenbridge fairytale in dramatic fashion.

Now, Milltown is home to the two most prized titles in Irish women's golf: the close championship, won by Suzanne Fanagan and the Senior Cup. But Milltown's captain Ann Lund captured the mood in the Dublin club when she confessed: "Our overwhelming reaction when it was all over was sheer relief Woodenbridge put up a tremendous battle."

Indeed they did. Milltown's two big names, Fanagan and Elaine Dowdall, both lost their singles, to former international Denise McCarthy and Sandra Watkins respectively, and Woodenbridge, contesting their first final, were only denied ultimate glory when two of the three remaining matches went to sudden death and fate sided with the opposition.

Kate MacCann was Milltown's only winner inside the distance when she beat Anne White by 2 and 1 ... but the real drama was reserved for the concluding two matches where Judith O'Sullivan showed nerves of steel to sink a 12 footer for victory at the 19th to beat Rachel Doyle and, then Helen MacMullen (who had been three up with five to play) also needed to go to the 19th to fend off Elizabeth Byrne.

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So, Milltown regained a title they last won in 1994 and Woodenbridge discovered they have what it takes to compete at the top club level in the country. Meanwhile, Douwe Egberts, the coffee people, have confirmed they will be extending their sponsorship for another three years.

. While Druids Glen will obviously provide a focal point for many golfers next Sunday, Ballray will also act as a magnet when the Leinster final of the Bulmers Irish Junior Cup is decided. Eight teams - Royal Dublin, Moate, Donabate, Laytown and Bettystown, Old Conna, Castlecomer, Elm Park and Blainroe - are involved in Saturday's quarterfinals and semi finals with the final scheduled for Sunday (10.00)

. The Leinster Girls under18 Championship, supported by Jones' Oil, will be held at Charlesland Golf Club next week. Strokeplay qualifying will take place on Monday with the top 16 players progressing to the championship matchplay which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

. Fourteen clubs will host regional qualifying competitions next month for the Shell Ladies Golf Challenge which is open to all women players with an ILGU handicap. The final of the inaugural competition will be staged at Mount Juliet on July 13th. Regional venues are: Portsalon (August 6th), Monkstown (8th), Ballyclough (11th), Beaufort (12th), Strandhill (12th), Nuremore (12th), Athlone (13th), Lisfannon (13th), Ballinrobe (14th), Skibbereen (15th), Black Bush (18th), Thurles (18th), Charlesland (21st), Beaverstown (25th). Entries to 1850-331414.

. Two handicapper Tom Hickey gave an inspired performance in assisting Limerick to victory in the All Ireland InterDivisional Garda Championship at Glasson. Hickey shot a superb five under par 67 - with birides at the sixth, 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th - two weeks ago to lead Limerick to national glory and, then, last week, helped them complete the double by taking the Munster championship at Shannon.