There was delight in Belfast and Cork yesterday as Lee Valley Ladies won another All-Ireland title. The Cork club captured the AIG Minor Cup in Belfast, their first time winning at Minor level. After several close calls this year, the final ended up being a clean sweep for Lee Valley as they beat Mountbellew. Rosemary Driscoll won the first point for Lee Valley on the 17th green when she won 2&1, while Deirdre Lee saw her match go to sudden death before she won and added a second point for Lee Valley. The winning point was secured by Breda O’Callaghan, she had a 2&1 win on the 17th to win the third match and secured another national pennant for Lee Valley. Both Jane O’Neill and Helen Gough were called in, their matches were considered as halves meaning the final score was 4-1 to Lee Valley. On Thursday, Helen Gough was the hero for Lee Valley, securing the winning point in the final match on the final green. Jane O’Neill and Breda O’Callaghan had secured the earlier points and their way to the final in a tough match against Donaghadee. Lee Valley Team Captain Angela Corcoran summed up the feelings of the Lee Valley members: “We’re absolutely thrilled, it could have gone either way right up until the end, it was an amazing contest,” said Angela. “This is our third All-Ireland, we have won two Intermediate Cups and now a Minor Cup in the last 5 years, it’s a huge honour for our 25-year-old club!” The Cork club last won a national title in 2015 when they won the AIG Intermediate Cup in Knightsbrook. The team along with a large number of members and supporters made the long trip from Belfast last night. And the winners were treated to a great reception back in Lee Valley when they arrived home to Ovens.
Autumn is here and so too Golfest as Fota Island gets into the Oktoberfest spirit. Now in it’s second year, Golfest will be run on more than a dozen separate dates in October. For €59 golfers can enter the Oktoberfest competition and also avail a special meal after their round. Embracing the tradition of Oktoberfest the menu features chicken schnitzel, bratwurst with a sourdough baguette or venison hotpot. Dinner is served with a pint of Chieftain IPA, finishing off the Oktoberfest experience for golfers. All competitions will be held on the Deerpark course which successfully hosted the Irish Open in 2014. The best score registered at the end of the month will win the top prize of a custom fit set of Callaway Apex Irons. Dates and times are available throughout October and bookings can be made online or by contacting the Pro Shop in Fota Island. The competition starts next week with times available on Thursday and Friday. Last year the resort ran a similar event, with a top prize of a trip to Munich for the overall winner. Despite a huge number of entries and stiff competition, the top prize went to Billy O’Donovan from Dunmore Golf 
Monkstown Head Professional Cian McNamara has an exciting event next week, he’s heading to France for stage one of the European Tour Qualifying School. McNamara has spent well over three years in Monkstown and the Limerick native was appointed as Head Professional two years ago. Prior that he was effectively a full-time player on the Irish PGA circuit. After a year in Monkstown an opportunity arose to become head pro, and in the past two years Cian has grown into the prestigious position. It was a big change for Cian but one that has worked out. “Things have changed dramatically for me over the two years. I have far more responsibility now than I ever had in my life but I feel I am growing into the position and hope that members of the golf club feel that I am improving in the role more as time is going on” said Cian on 
Although he’s a Dub, Matt Sands could nearly be considered a Corkman given that he’s spent the best part of 30 years here. Matt is General Manager in Cork Golf Club and moved from Dublin in 1988 to take up the job. Matt isn’t the only person with long service in Cork, in fact it seems to be a feature with course superintendent Anthony Gillis having worked in Cork for over 50 years. Gerry Kenneally who runs the impressive restaurant has been attached to the Little Island club for 28 years while club professional Peter Hickey has been based in Cork for 22 years. Matt has seen plenty happen in that time. From major competitions like the Irish Close and the home internatioals, to the Pro Am and Munster Strokeplay which are annual showpiece events, Cork is generally a busy spot. Apart from the major competitions, there have been a few major projects that Matt has been involved with in the last three decades and he lists the clubhouse redevelopment (2002) and the course upgrade (2011-2012) as the biggest. “I came in during Centenary Year in 1998” said Matt, “and I 
Cork Golf News 