Castlecomer Golf Club dream big ahead of AIG Finals

The AIG Women’s Intermediate Foursomes tee up in Gort Golf Club tomorrow with one Kilkenny-based club dreaming big ahead of their first ever women’s All-Ireland final appearance.

Eight teams make their way to Galway in search of Inter-club glory with the AIG Men’s Pierce Purcell semi-finals set to get proceedings underway at 10am before the AIG Women’s Intermediate Foursomes semi-finals tee up from 11.30am.

Castlecomer will be one of the four women’s teams vying for the much sought-after green pennant, having made their way to their first women’s All-Ireland Inter-Club finals in their almost 90-year history, an achievement that already means so much to team co-manager Honoria Fogarty.

“This is a first for us to get to an All-Ireland in the ladies. Comer is there since 1935. This is big for us because it’s a great achievement for them. We would have got to the Leinster stages before but to get to a semis is a first” said Fogarty.

“We’re a small club, it’s great, it’s wonderful. An honour and it’s all due to their commitment. It’s not easy, you take a small pool of people and it’s a great achievement. A lot of them have been there over the years trying to get this far.”

“Comer” are set take on Ennis in their semi-final match while Athenry go in search of more inter-club glory following their men’s AIG Junior Cup success when they face Rathcore on the opening day.

History is set to be made in both competitions as the Pierce Purcell event will see a new named etched on to the trophy when all four teams go in search of their first title. Athlone are set take on Co Cavan in the first of the morning matches while Cahir Park will meet Tulfarris.

This year will also see the first awarding of the Intermediate Foursomes title following the recent Inter-Club review, and having seen Intermediate Cup success travel to the Marble County with Gowran Park last season, the chance to make more history would be an incredible accomplishment for Castlecomer.

“It would be a miracle, it would be brilliant, it would be a dream come true,” said Fogarty.

“We’ll take it day by day. One day at a time, one shot at a time and don’t be worrying about what’s gone. That’s all you can do. One hole at a time.”

The commitment of the players and of those behind the scenes has been paramount to Castlecomer’s performance in getting to this stage with Fogarty praising the work of her co-manager Marie Gannon and their panel over the last number of months.

“There was a lot of work and homework had to be done to get where we are,” said Fogarty.

“A lot of hard work and a lot of commitment and a lot of giving up of other things between family and work and everything. It’s well overdue, they deserve it.”

With a membership of just over 70 women at the club, the chance to show what a small club can do on the national stage is an immensely proud moment for Fogarty and her team.

“It’s great for the town to see that our club can do things, the men won the O’Moore Cup the other day so the enthusiasm, the support that’s in the club now, they are realising that we have that calibre of people in the club,” said Fogarty.

“The selection committee, the lady captain, the ladies club, they have all been behind us big time and they are all trying to pull out all the stops for this one.

“They are all proud of the panel and the ladies and all the commitment and time that they have given and the big thing out of it is the joy and unity that they have got and the vibe it has brought to the club being part of an All-Ireland Semi-Final and getting so far.”