“It removed the excitement of matchplay, the feeling of a team the boys get from the Fred Daly or Boys’ Foursomes, the new friendships built through the intensity of matchplay with the opposition, the fun for the supporters watching each match and ultimately knowing what each putt means in terms of the result,” he said.
“We have lost the only matchplay competition for the girls in the calendar and for this year’s All Ireland finals, it meant the boys played almost 90pc of the rounds at Warrenpoint this year.”
Despite that, Cunningham was immensely proud of his squad of Amelie Cunningham, Ellen Campion, Alex Cunningham, Sinead Melville, Aoibhe Cunningham, Chloe Murphy and Cara Fitzpatrick, led by Junior Captain Aoife Lyons.
“Aoife and Alex had the two counting scores for Carton House to win on 71 points over a demanding and beautifully presented Warrenpoint, with Aoife’s score of 40 points, the best of the day and the difference in a break of a tie with Co Louth, who also had 71 points,” Cunningham said.
“Our team were playing off a collective 15 shots lower than in the qualifiers, so it shows how this competition drives them on to participate more than they normally would.”
The squad will be keen spectators at Carton House next week as a record Irish contingent tees it up.
Elm Park’s Anna Foster and Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson will be making their professional debuts on the O’Meara Course alongside Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey, and Carton House’s touring professional Lauren Walsh, who is a contender for Rookie of the Year honours on the LET.
Amateurs Emma Fleming, Kate Lanigan, Olivia Costello and Aideen Walsh make their second Irish Open appearances this year after playing at Dromoland Castle in 2023 and they will have competition for low amateur honours from Roisin Scanlon, Kate Dillon, Canice Screene and Anna Abom.
“Thanks to our title sponsor, KPMG, and all of our event co-sponsors and partners, we are privileged to be in a position where we can give so many Irish players an opportunity to play in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open,” said Cian Branagan, CEO of event promoter ForeFront Group.
“I know this opportunity will give them a taste of what it is like to compete at the highest level in Europe and we are beyond excited to provide them with this platform.”
Around 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the four-day event, where the 13 Irish players will be joined by defending champion Smilla Tarning Søenderby of Denmark, former AIG Women’s Open winner Georgia Hall and another seven winners on the LET circuit this year.