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Irish Independent
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Louth GAA: O'Raghallaighs retain Division 2 status after Horan hat-trick downs Tones
O'Raghallaighs came out on top in this tense Drogheda derby to secure Division 2 football for another season with victory over Wolfe Tones at Jimmy Pentony Park on Saturday afternoon. The Wolfe Tones went into the game hoping to add league promotion to their Junior Championship title, but despite another spirited display they fell just short as the North Road men did just enough. To make matters worse for the Tones, it was former player, John Horan, who proved the difference between the teams as he fired in a hat-trick to ensure his side secured a five-point win. In an impressive display, the full-forward landed 3-3 in total, with the first goal coming in the opening half along with a Kyle McElroy three-pointer to send his team in with a 2-6 to 0-7 advantage. McElroy also made a telling contribution as he chalked up a total of 1-8. The Tones battled throughout the second half to stay in the game and goals from Eoghan Brennan – who finished with 1-6 – and Chris Cudden kept them in touch. However, at the other end, Horan wasn't to be denied as he completed his hat-trick to prevent relegation to Division 3. Sean McQuail, Liam Gaffney and Sean Flanagan were also on target for the Tones but they fell just short of securing a historic promotion. O'Raghallaighs: Joe Finnegan; Emmett King, Alan Doyle, James Morgan; Olan Walsh, Stephen Murphy, Danny Morgan; Conor McGinty, Barry Finnegan; Jason Reynolds, Ruairi Moore 0-2, Eoin Moore 0-1; Kyle McElroy 1-8, Ben Rogan, John Horan 3-3. Subs: Lucas Carton for R Moore, Euan Sweeney for S Murphy, Joe Meehan for J Morgan, Cameron Griffin for J Reynolds. Wolfe Tones: Stephen Murray Kierans; Danny Byrne, Davy Bolger, Alan Fanning; Seán Flanagan 0-1, Rhys McGovern, Seán McQuail 0-2 (2p); Mark Healy, Sam Kelly; Liam Gaffney 0-2, Dwayne Leavy 0-1, Taidgh Rock; Garrett Cooney 0-1, Eoghan Brennan 1-6 (2 x 2p), Chris Cudden 1-1. Subs: Dean Haggans for A Fanning, Alan Wilton for G Cooney, Patrick Fanning 0-1 for S Flanagan. Division 3B Final Begley goal the difference as Mals edge decider Naomh Malachi 1-10 Cuchulainn Gaels 0-11 Naomh Malachi ended the league campaign on a high as they clinched the Division 3B title with victory over Cuchulainn Gaels on Saturday night. The game at Pairc Eamoin proved to be a closely contested affair throughout but in the end it was the Courtbane side who did just enough to get their hands on the silverware. The Mals had to do it the hard way as they trailed at the interval but managed to turn the tide as corner forward Andrew Begley scored the only goal of the game to come out on top. Two-pointers also played an important part in the win as Darrin Kearney landed two along with one from Paudie Moley to help dash Gaels hopes that had been raised by a strong first-half showing. With Aodhan O'Hanlon leading the charge in attack, the Omeath men went into the break with a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage and were looking good to claim a historic title. However, on a night when Adam Sharkey, Dylan Lynch and David O'Reilly all contributed points, they were unable to sustain their efforts in an entertaining second half as the Mals came strong in the end to clinch victory. Naomh Malachi: Darrin Kearney 0-6 (2 x 2p); Daniel Mulligan, Sean Watters, Conor Begley; Darren Clarke, Stephen Burns, Sean McArdle; Malachy Mackin 0-1, Kevin McShane; Matty Campbell 0-1, Paudie Moley 0-2 (2p), Donal Begley; Stephen Kelly, Conor Nicholson, Andrew Begley 1-0. Subs: Paudie McLoughlin for Kelly, Paul Burke, Ronan McElroy, James McShane, Michael McLoughlin, Gary McShane. Cuchulainn Gaels: Shea Quigley; Luke McGovern, Sean Brennan, Ciaran McCann; Jamie Molloy, Martin Hynes, John Morgan; Micheal McCabe 0-1, Dylan Lynch 0-2; Rammie Phillips, Cian McDonald, Larry Brennan; Adam Sharkey 0-3, Aodhan O'Hanlon 0-4 (2p), David Reilly 0-1. Subs: Callum Fearon for McCann, James Sharkey for Morgan, James Walker for O'Hanlon.
Irish Examiner
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Shannon Burke and Yvonne Courtney claim Munster titles in Castletroy
Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) capped off a superb season with her third championship victory, firing a course record-equalling 69 (-5) to win the Munster Over-18 Women's Senior Amateur Open Championship at Castletroy Golf Club. Already crowned Leinster and Connacht Over 18 Senior Champion earlier this year, Burke arrived at the Limerick course in fine form and got off to a strong start with three birdies and a bogey on the front nine to make the turn at two under par. Another birdie followed at the 11th before a superb closing stretch saw her add birdies at 16 and 17 and she would go on to finish in style with an eagle on the par-five 18th. The five-under-par round left her clear of nearest challengers Paula Walsh (Doneraile) and Aine Martin (Kanturk). 'Had a super day out there. Hit it lovely so it was nice to finish well with an eagle on the last,' said Burke. 'The wind got up, and so at times it was quite difficult out there, but I hit my irons quite nicely in particular and then I knew coming in there's some chances there so I kind of just stuck in there and knew I'd have chances coming in. 'I've been playing well throughout the entire season, so it's been nice to have that when we go out and play in championships so absolutely thrilled.' The Junior Championship was settled in dramatic fashion after Yvonne Courtney (Macroom) and Roisin Quinlivan (Clonmel) could not be separated following their 18 holes of stroke play with both players carding rounds of 85. A sudden-death playoff would be needed to decide the championship, and it took until the 22nd hole before Courtney rolled in the decisive putt on the 4th green, celebrating with fellow Macroom member Eileen Healy. 'Absolutely blown away, delighted. Did not expect this coming up today,' said Courtney. 'I got up and down well on a couple of the holes and absolutely delighted. 'I was nearly heading off, I didn't realise it was going to a playoff I had just presumed it would be won on countback, but I was delighted to get another opportunity to go out. Any day I am out playing golf is a good day so delighted.'
Irish Independent
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Time is right for Louth Ladies to step up says Ceire Nolan
There's a belief within the Louth squad that they are better than the Junior Championship status they play.
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘My junior major win helped me grow'
Ten years on from her staggering 16-shot victory in the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, Northern Ireland's Olivia Mehaffey says that the event in Portugal remains one of the most fun weeks of her career. Not only did she make history by becoming the first Irish girls' winner of the junior major, but she says she matured and made lifelong friends at Quinta do Lago, which will later this year host girls' finals on its 35th anniversary. Mehaffey had qualified on her home course at Royal County Down, having been told by her father that her round was going to act as a qualifier. 'You have to post a good score [if you want] to travel out there,' she says. 'Knowing that, I had nothing to lose, and for me it was a one-day shoot-out. I remember being really excited as no Irish player had reached the finals before.' Mehaffey travelled out to the Algarve having won the Scottish, Irish (for the third year running) and Welsh Open Amateur strokeplay titles. Then came her stunning win in Portugal, which was by one of the biggest winning margins in Junior Championship history. 'I won by 16 shots, but I remember playing the last hole still thinking to myself 'Why are you so nervous!'' she laughs. 'The tournament really develops you as a golfer. We had media training, got to go out to Portugal, play in the am-am and play in front of TV cameras. 'It helped me mature as a player, and I know there were players there younger than me, so to start that development earlier is brilliant.' Mehaffey went on to reach the top five in the amateur world rankings and has played in two Curtis Cups, two US Opens, three Opens and was in the top 10 at the Augusta National Women's Amateur. She attended Arizona State University before turning professional in 2021. 'Education was important, and getting a college degree is something I am very proud of,' she says. 'I didn't need to rush and I had a lot of growing up to do. Having to mature away from my mum and dad helped me get to the next stage of life. 'Golf is extremely humbling. It is so up and down, and you never know what's around the corner. It's about being consistent, doing the things that work for you and not veering off that path.' After Mehaffey lost her father to cancer in late 2021, she took some time away from golf. In March this year she achieved her best showing in over 20 months by finishing fourth on South Africa's Sunshine Tour. She says: 'I had anxiety on the course but worked hard with my sports psychologist. It's nice to go out now and be able to see shots and be comfortable standing up on holes.' A decade on from her memorable win, Mehaffey is best placed to offer advice to those juniors wanting to follow in her footsteps. 'Everyone's journey is different,' she adds. 'There are people who turn pro after a successful amateur career and do well very quickly, and others who take a little bit longer. You have to find your own journey and story, and know you can't compare it to other people.'
Winnipeg Free Press
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Lafleche takes seven-stroke lead into final round
Jeri Lafleche has played enough competitive golf to know her lead can disappear in a few swings. With the way the Winnipeg teen is striking the ball, however, perhaps that's all it'll take for her to become unreachable on Wednesday. Lafleche, who began the day with a two-shot advantage, ended Tuesday's round at the junior women's provincial championship with a seven-stroke lead after firing a rock-solid 2-under 70 at Quarry Oaks in Steinbach. MIKE PETERS / GOLF MANITOBA Niakwa's Jeri Lafleche shot 70 on Tuesday at Quarry Oaks, growing her lead to a seven-shot advantage in the Junior Girls Championship. The Niakwa member is not afraid to recognize that she's played outstandingly through two days, but she's also not wiping away her game face with 18 holes remaining. 'I'm not really thinking too much about the outcome. I think I'm just going to try to stick with my game plan. It's worked pretty well these past two days. Nothing really major has come up where it's put me in some big trouble. So just thinking about that tomorrow is going to be pretty key, I think,' Lafleche told the Free Press after her round. Reigning champion Addison Kartusch has the best chance at catching Lafleche on the final day. Kartusch is 4-over for the tournament after carding a 3-over 75 in the second round. Jewel Lafleche, Jeri's younger sister, is in solo third at 15-over, while Payton Oakden (17-over) and Camryn Thomas (21-over) round out the top five. 'Seven strokes — it sounds like a lot, but then I know that it only takes a couple of holes for me to give that back,' Lafleche said. 'Addie and I have played a lot of golf together, and I know what she can pull out, but I'm confident in my game, so just kind of finding that balance.' Along with Monday's 1-under 71, Lafleche is the first to post consecutive rounds under par at the Junior Girls Championship in more than two decades. Golf Manitoba's round-by-round archives go back as far as 2004, but it's fair to say the leader has put together one of the finest two-round performances in tournament history. The former back-to-back Women's Amateur Champion poured in four birdies in Tuesday's round, and unlike Monday when she rode a rollercoaster of birdies and bogeys on the front nine, she struck a groove early on and enjoyed a more consistent outing. 'No part of my game is letting me down this week,' said Lafleche, who is the only player to finish in red figures this week. 'So I'm not trying to avoid hitting certain shots, and I think playing aggressively and being able to execute those aggressive shots has maybe saved me a few strokes on some holes that I know maybe birdieing or paring is going to gain strokes on the field.' Lafleche is seeking her first Junior Championship crown in her final start at the tournament. Meanwhile, Kartusch remains hopeful that she can continue a historic run of play in provincial tournaments. Last year, the St. Charles teen became the first Manitoba woman to win the Match Play, Amateur and Junior Championship in the same summer. She can repeat the triple crown with a win on Wednesday. 'I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself to perform the way I want to, but I've kind of been in this position before,' said Kartusch, a two-time winner who is also playing in her final junior event. 'It's not a comfortable feeling, I guess, because it's still a tournament and I want to play well, and it's golf — you don't know what's going to happen — but I think having played a bunch of tournaments before now and having experience, I do feel confident about the rounds I put in this summer, so far.' Kartusch and the Lafleche sisters will tee off in the final group at 12:23 p.m. On the Junior Boys' side, Spence Mott and Payne Wood went shot-for-shot in a thrilling final grouping, combining for 12 birdies and finishing with matching 4-under 68s. Mott, who hails from Shilo, is 5-under for the tournament and holds a one-shot lead over St. Boniface's Wood heading into the final round. 'There were a lot of birdies,' said Mott, who was under par on seven holes. 'He put more of the pressure on me most of the time, put everything closer so I had to make a lot more feet in putts than he did.' Wood had the cleaner round, dropping just one shot on the third hole — his only bogey through 36 holes — but Mott scored more. Birdies on one, five, seven, nine, 11, 15 and 16 outweighed his three bogeys on Tuesday. 'I think everything kind of just worked,' he added. 'I didn't hit it out of play once, didn't really give myself many long putts and made the par 5s pretty easy.' Others firmly in the mix include host course member Ty Brewster, who paces the 15 and 16-year-old division but sits five shots back of the overall lead at even par, and Niakwa's Ryder St. Laurent, who leads the 13 and 14-year-old division at 1-over. Tanner Grose, Gavin Carver and Nathan Hoogsteen are tied for fifth place at 4-over. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The junior men's championship will see a different winner for the third year in a row. Teerawut Boonseeor of Thailand and Shilo's Zostrianos Giordani-Gross have won the last two events, respectively, after Winnipeg's Braxton Kuntz went back-to-back. 'I just want to keep the game face on. Try and shoot three rounds under par,' said Mott. Mott, Wood and Brewster are off at 11:24 a.m. 'I think (I have to do) the same as today,' Mott added. 'The lower I keep my expectations, the more birdies I just start to make — they just start falling a lot more, instead of chasing them.' Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
