Killarney who won the ILGU Senior Cup on Saturday.  Pic: Pat Cashmn

Mairead Martin and Valerie Clancy played a key part in Killarney’s Irish Senior Cup win over the weekend.  The Cork girls were playing in the ILGU finals at Royal Curragh and they helped Killarney pick up their first national Senior Cup pennant.  Mairead who is playing out of Kanturk and Valerie who is from Mitchelstown have been attached to Killarney for several years and while both have had plenty of individual success, this team win was their first at national level.  Both have been capped at international level this year so the Senior Cup winners medal is a great finish to a very busy summer season for the pair.  Kilkenny were the quarter final opponents and the Cork girls led the playing order with both girls winning their matches.  There was more of the same on Friday afternoon when another two wins helped Killarney overcome The Island.  On Saturday morning they faced a tough task against a strong side from Royal Portrush.

They Cork girls were again playing in the top two spots in the running order.  And they didn’t let the side down, maintaining their 100% record and winning both of their matches.  Valerie Clancy was the first result in as she finished 4&3 over Gemma McClenaghan, followed shortly after by Kelly Brotherton who also sealed a 4&3 victory.  With the Royal Portrush up in both the last two games, it was all down to the first match in which Mairead was now 2 up with 2 holes to play.  With a birdie on the 17th, the match was now won and Killarney were crowned Senior Cup Champions for the first time in the clubs history.  While both girls will be heading back to school this week, Martin has the Duke of York tournament in Royal Liverpool to look forward to in two weeks time, and after that it’s on to the World Junior Girls in Canada at the end of the month.