Sunday, November 17, 2024

All-Ireland finals series ends with two mixed titles up for grabs at Oughterard

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The finals series began at Warrenpoint in August, when Greystones won the Fred Daly Trophy, and Carton House and Royal Tara claimed the Girls’ and Boys’ Inter-Club crowns.

The action moved to Carlow the following week, where Roscommon claimed the Women’s Senior Foursomes, Moyola Park the Barton Shield, Castletroy the AIG Men’s Senior Cup and Douglas the Women’s Senior Cup.

Athlone was the venue for the AIG Junior Cup finals earlier this month, where Rockmount claimed the women’s and Athenry the men’s green pennants.

The action then moved to Gort, where Castlecomer won the AIG Women’s intermediate Foursomes and Co Cavan took the Men’s Pierce Purcell Shield.

Last weekend’s finals were at Shannon, where Courtown won the AIG Women’s Minor Foursomes and Ardee the AIG Men’s Jimmy Bruen Shield.

With 14 pennants now decided, eight clubs head for Oughterard looking to claim the last two All-Ireland titles this year, and it promises to be an exciting affair.

In the Irish Mixed Foursomes, Achill Island face Malahide in Friday’s first semi-final with the winners to face Fermoy or Millicent on Saturday.

Achill Island beat Narin and Portnoo 3-1 in their quarter-finals with big wins for Michael Scanlon and Julie Hassett, David Ryder and Jackie Kennedy, and Paul Fitzgerald and Karen Lyons.

But they face a challenging task against Malahide, who will be looking to go one better than last year when they fell 3-2 to Ballinasloe in the All-Ireland Final at Knightsbook.

They defeated Clandeboye on the 19th in the last eight with Gary Cullen one of the stars of the show, alongside his partner, Claire Grace.

Fermoy edged out Castletroy at the 19th in their quarter-finals with Jimmy Quirke and Lisa McLoughlin leading from the front.

But it won’t be easy against Millicent, who beat Greystones in the last eight, with Paul Mooney and Sue Gill, and Dave Smith and Liz Dagg getting the crucial points in the last two matches.

The Irish Mixed Fourball, which was introduced this year, also promises to be an entertaining affair as Portlaoise take on Woodstock for the right to face Castlebar or Belvoir Park in Saturday’s final.

Portlaoise defeated Rathfarnham thanks to wins for Declan Phelan and Mary Byrne and Michael Craven and Mary Downey, while Woodstock knocked out Muskerry 3-1 as Mike Kelly and Chaye Kelly, and Pat O’Brien and Hannah O’Brien produced big wins.

Castlebar were also 3-1 winners over Roe Park earlier this month with John Kelly and Derval Molloy and Sean Haugh and Gina Kelly two key pairings.

But Belvoir Park proved they will be a handful after they edged a tight match with Luttrellstown Castle in their quarter-final visit to Oughterard nearly two weeks ago.

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