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National Ladies Matchplay 2012 preview

Posted on 31 May '12 by Dave Hayden II

From ppui.ie

This might seem a bit cheeky, but I'm aware that these previews seem to have caught the imagination, and the PR team under Padraig O'Shea's stewardship have made a solid effort to try and bring about a campaign of solid coverage to all the events under the Pitch and Putt umbrella. So far it seems to be working well. Munster and Leinster correspondents have dovetailed well, and the reports from the finals of the Provincial Matchplay by thanks to the office staff combined with the previews have been well received across the board. We're all delighted by that.

With that in mind, can I start by asking all those in Youghal to give the very best of respect to the 34 women who will be competing at this year's National Matchplay Championships? Perhaps an unusual request, but a necessary one I feel. There has been much talk about the Ladies Game these past few months and not for the best of reasons - unfairly so to those who are continuously putting in an effort to either play or to coax out new or nervous players.

Put that aside for this weekend, and if you feel the need to talk about this year's events, then do so by congratulating those ladies who have made the effort to enter, and if you are there to support a male player, then spend 15 mins or whatever time you have to watch some of the ladies ties. If the game you're following is over, don't just walk away, look around you and watch some of the women. They deserve it. If you're a local, and you have a young daughter, niece, or neighbour, why not bring them down to Claycastle and show them the fine sportswomen that Pitch and Putt has to offer. If the PPUI gained 1 new female player from these championships it would be a success. We have to start somewhere.....

The Ladies Matchplay has an unusual look to it this year, as there are two preliminary games to be decided before the 1st round proper commences. All the big names are involved again this year, and it's hard to look past the cluster of players that have become household names amongst our community. The prelims through up two intriguing ties, the first of which pairs Mairead O'Toole of Poulaphouca against Lakewood's Patricia Conway, and the second is a fine match between Lakeside's Martha O'Brien, and Claire O'Flynn of ESB. These are two games that really could set the tempo for the weekend, even if neither probably will throw up a winner.

As I mentioned earlier, it's very hard to get a read on just how much the venue is going to affect players. First of all I'm not sure just how much Claycastle will suit Cork players, when normally a local would hold an advantage. I've a feeling Patricia Conway will emerge to face Linda O'Donovan in Round 1, but the second prelim is a real knife-edge game. You would think Martha O'Brien would be favourite, but Claire is a really tight player. This is very hard to call; O'Brien.

In the main draw as usual the field is divided into 4 segments, with 4 pre-seeded players: Margarete Hogan, Eleanor Walsh, Ger Ward and Chrissie Byrne. Ward's path to the semi-finals is by far the more straightforward - Eleanor Walsh not so much. Likewise Hogan has a fierce tough group. She starts her defence against a real tough opponent in Philo Condron, but she should have enough in the locker to keep hold of her title into Round 2. Alas this is where she could come a cropper, as she faces the winner of Tara and Marian (no surnames required). Marian was a surprising comfortable winner when these ladies met at the semi-final stage of the Leinster, and she seems to be enjoying a bit of a renaissance - that feels both awkward and incorrect given how young Marian still is - and it is good to see her coming back to something close to her devastating best. Margaret against Marian would be a corker and either player will be the favourite going into the quarter-finals. The opponent is likely to be Glenville's Linda Thomson. Another solid young lady player, this is a good time for the bubbly Dubliner. She was unlucky at provincial level, played in last year's Inter-counties, and is starting to emerge from the background a little. This championship should help her development. She should in theory dispose of Old County's Pauline Balfe, and I would fancy her to take Pat Murphy in Round 2, should Pat defeat Ger Edwards of CYMC as I would suspect. This would give Thomson a real chance and it's one I feel she will take, leaving her in the quarters.

The second quarter has a great collection of players, and it will be a hard-fought section, no quarter given or asked, so-to-speak. It will be dominated by the Munster ladies though, no question about it. Vera McCarthy will have enough for Barbara Furlong, and in all reality she should face clubmate Siobhan Scannell and that will be a good match. Scannell should emerge to the quarters. Who awaits her there is another story altogether! Two firm contenders for the title, Breda Lonergan & Eleanor Walsh both face two Meath ladies who would be confident against a lot of the field, but neither has much chance here - sorry girls. Lonergan vs. Walsh is as good a game as you'll witness all weekend. Breda Lonergan probably starts as favourite, but that doesn't mean much when the pair are so closely matched. I'll go for Lonergan however.
To conclude the top-half of the draw, the quarter-finals I envisage are Marian Byrne v Linda Thomson & Siobhan Scannell v Breda Lonergan. I can only see a Byrne Lonergan semi-final and I believe Lonergan has the potential to reach the final on Bank Holiday Monday.

The bottom half of the draw has its own collection of good players, but some of the outcomes are probably that bit more clear-cut. Ger Ward for example, if she's fit, should make the last eight pulling up. Margaret Keogh will be a nice introduction match, but Ward should have no trouble dismissing Paula Nolan of Ballinlough, if Nolan herself thwarts Lucan's Kay Croke.

Ward can expect to face the winner of the preliminary game in the quarters, as Martha O'Brien is possibly in that little group just behind the Byrne's/McGrath/Lonergan's of the sport, but also that bit ahead of the rest. O'Brien's' reward for overcoming the prelim challenge of Claire O'Flynn would be a tie against another Cork player, Maria Kerr of Rosscarbery. This will be a step too far for Maria, and O'Brien would likely face Shandon's Maree O'Toole, assuming of course that O'Toole accounts for Lucan's Brenda Purcell, which she should. O'Toole is the perfect opponent for O'Brien: enough of a test as to need to play well, but an eminently winnable game. I think she will do that, earning a shot against the legend Ward. Sooner or later a player has to stand up and announce themselves, and I've a feeling O'Brien could do that with a victory over Geraldine Ward.

The final quarter has the current #1, Chrissie Byrne, a former #1 in Tracey McGrath, as well as a couple of good Cork players. Starting with McGrath she is paired with Helen Greagsby of CYMC in Dublin, and despite making the Leinster Semi's, there is still a gulf between the two, and if her mind is on the matter at hand, McGrath will progress. Lucan's Mairead O'Brien faces the long trip south to take on Lakewood's Valerie O'Leary, and I suspect it will be an early exit for O'Brien. McGrath would then face O'Leary and this is a game that has potential for a shock I think; but I still feel McGrath will make the last eight.

That leaves the final quarter final spot logically for Chrissie Byrne. She starts off against Sheelagh Elmes. It won't be easy, but I suspect Byrne will expect to win. Linda O'Donovan should be her opponent - she faces the winner of the other prelim (earlier mentioned as being Patricia Conway) - but it shouldn't matter, Chrissie is too canny to leave the tournament that early. This point's to a quarter-final between McGrath and Byrne, yet again adding a new chapter to their friendly rivalry. Logic would say Byrne has the upper hand at present, and I ain't messing with logic. Byrne would face O'Brien for the right to contest the National Matchplay final. The thoughts of a Lonergan-Byrne final are exciting, and would be a mouth-watering prospect. I'm not calling that one, just savour the thought.

Philo Condron


Brenda Purcell


Kathleen Croke