ILGU - Dundalk sets stage for All-Ireland AIG Ladies Cups and Shields

Dundalk Golf Club is preparing to welcome 30 teams to its Championship course for the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields National Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals this week. There was great excitement during the District Finals and all teams have been preparing for the national stage, where they will all be vying for a national title. 

Dundalk Ladies Honorary Secretary, Pat Cleary shared her excitement on hosting the finals, “Dundalk Golf Club is delighted to host this year's AIG Ladies Cups and Shields Finals – it’s a perfect time for us to show off our recently refurbished course which is in excellent condition. This tournament provides us with the opportunity to welcome visitors from so many clubs to Dundalk and it gives us a chance to exchange stories and meet and greet new people at our Club.  We hope that this national event will be a huge success and wish all the participants the very best of luck in their matches.”

Click HERE for up to date Tournament information.

Senior Foursomes
There is hot competition in the Senior Foursomes category, which sees minimum combined pairings of 14. Mid Leinster’s Kilkenny Golf Club stand out as favourites in this category as they have recently been crowned All-Ireland Senior Cup Champions. They will face stiff competition from Milltown, who also fared well in Senior Cup, having reached the All-Ireland semi-finals. The two Leinster teams meet in the quarter-finals, while east Cork, and Portumna will play each other in the semi-final and a strong Royal Portrush side will meet the winner of the quarter-final in the other semi. 

Junior Foursomes
Tramore and Belvoir Park have been drawn against each other in the quarter-final of the Junior Foursomes, while Stackstown, who overcame 2015 District Champions Powerscourt in dramatic fashion will play Castlebar in the top semi-final. The winners of Tramore and Belvoir Park will play Cahir Park in the bottom semi-final, who have also qualified for the Revive Active National Fourball Finals.

Junior Cup
Belvoir Park have also qualified in the Junior Cup category, which welcomes players between the handicaps of 8 and 15. They have been drawn against Wexford in the quarter-final, who hope to bring the All-Ireland title home, after neighbours Enniscorthy managed to do so in 2015. Roscommon will take on Castle, who have reached the All-Ireland finals for the second consecutive year, after being crowned 2015 All-Ireland Senior Foursomes Champions. Munster District Champions, Castletroy will play the winner of the quarter-final and hope to carry on their district success to a national title.

Intermediate Cup
The Intermediate Cup is the first of the matches to tee off at Dundalk tomorrow and will see Ulster’s Malone and Munster’s Ballykisteen take to the course in the quarter-final.  Ballykisteen will be hoping youth will fare advantageous as the victorious district side fielded a 10 and 13 year old. The winners of the quarter-final will take on Portumna while Edmondstown and Wicklow will play in the other semi-final.

Minor Cup
Co. Tipperary Golf Club once again return to the all-Ireland quarter-finals in the Minor Cup category. They were overcome by Donaghadee last year but hope to triumph against Ballinrobe this year and progress to the semi-finals, where they or opponents Ballinrobe will meet Greystones. Athy take on Co. Armagh in the other semi-final.

Challenge Cup
Headfort emerged victorious against Edmondstown in the District Challenge Cup, after being defeated by them in the Intermediate Cup and they face Co. Sligo in the quarter-final. The winner will face Wexford in the semi-final.  A strong Ballybunion side tasted victory at district level also and will battle with Co. Armagh in the semi-final, who are also fielding two teams at the All-Ireland finals.

TIMESHEET FOR NATIONAL FINALS (Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals)  
Wednesday 21 September 2016
11.00               Intermediate Cup Quarter Final: Malone –v- Ballykisteen
11:45               Minor Cup Quarter Final:  Co. Tipperary –v- Ballinrobe
12:30-12:50     Senior Foursomes Quarter Finals: Milltown –v- Kilkenny

Thursday 22 September 2016
08:00               Intermediate Cup Semi Final:  Edmondstown –v- Wicklow

08:45               Intermediate Cup Semi Final:  Malone/Ballykisteen –v- Portumna
09:30               Minor Cup Semi Final:  Athy –v- Co. Armagh
10:15               Minor Cup Semi Final:  Co. Tipperary/Ballinrobe –v- Greystones
11:00               Senior Foursomes Semi Final: East Cork –v- Portumna
11:30               Senior Foursomes Semi Final: Milltown/Kilkenny –v- Royal Portrush
12:00               Junior Cup Quarter Final: Wexford –v- Belvoir Park

12:45               Junior Foursomes Quarter Final: Tramore –v- Belvoir Park
13:15               Challenge Cup Quarter Final:  Headfort –v- Co. Sligo

Friday 23 September 2016
08:00               Junior Cup Semi Final:  Wexford/Belvoir Park –v- Castletroy

08:45               Junior Cup Semi Final: Roscommon –v- Castle
09:30               Junior Foursomes Semi Final: Castlebar –v- Stackstown
10:00               Junior Foursomes Semi Final: Tramore/Belvoir Park –v- Cahir Park

10:30               Challenge Cup Semi Final:  Co. Armagh –v- Ballybunion
11:15               Challenge Cup Semi Final: Headfort/Co. Sligo –v- Wexford

12:15               Intermediate Cup Final:

13:00               Minor Cup Final:

13:45               Senior Foursomes Final:

Saturday 24 September 2016
10:00               Junior Foursomes Final:
10:40               Junior Cup Final:
11:30               Challenge Cup Final:

The above schedule may be subject to change.