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WHILE most of the sporting focus in this part of the world was directed towards Croke Park and the Tyrone men’s victory over Mayo to earn them the Sam Maguire Cup, the day before, the concentration at Fintona Golf Club was on Shandon Park in Belfast where their ladies team were aiming to start the weekend off with a bang by winning their own All-Ireland crown.
The team of Catriona Donnelly, Jo McNelis, Angela Montague, Fanchea Donnelly and Carmel Colgan had beaten Masserene, Ballymena, Balmoral and Newtownstewart to claim the Ulster title before progressing to the AIG Women’s Challenge Cup finals in Belfast where they faced a tough route to the final.
First of all they faced Leinster outfit, Sutton Golf Club, who they defeated 3.5 to 1.5 in the last eight before ousting Dublin side, Grange Golf Club by the same score.
That set up a decider against Gort, which turned into an epic encounter that wasn’t decided until the first extra hole of the final match as Catriona Donnelly displayed nerves of steel to seal the triumph.
Despite going out in the top match, both Fintona’s Catriona Donnelly and Gort’s Anne Connolly had chances to win the final for their teams.
Connolly won the 16th and 17th holes, and had a putt on the 18th to win, but an excellent approach shot from Donnelly on the 19th hole proved the difference, winning on the first extra hole.
FULL STORY IN LAST WEEK’S PAPER
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