History lends a helping hand as Ballina pair show fighting spirit

Daily Mail
26 May 2009

THE inspiration of a heroic victory over 20 years ago is driving on Ballina’s Siobhan Leonard and Pauline Rowley in this year’s Irish Mail All-Ireland Trophy.

In 1988 the Ballina mother and daughter team of Renee and Mary Corcoran won the Daily Mail Foursomes, defeating England’s Brickendon Grange in the final.

The Irish Mail Trophy is the successor competition to the Daily Mail Foursomes, and after beating Castlebar’s Betty Gannon and Breta Fitzmaurice to reach the last 32, Ballina’s Pauline Rowley said: ‘We are very much aware of the Ballina club's great tradition in the competition. We see no reason why history couldn’t repeat itself, and we are both looking forward to the next round.’

Renee Corcoran has since died, but her fighting spirit lived on in the performance of the Leonard and Rowley pair against local Co Mayo rivals Castlebar.

Castlebar went three up after five holes but Ballina tenaciously pulled themselves back into the match`with some purposeful golf and held a two hole lead with three to play. A brilliant pitch and putt on the 17th by Leonard closed out the match 2&1.

The most thrilling finish in the third round was between Co.Donegal clubs Ballybofey & Stranorlar and Narin & Portnoo. The match was only decided when Ballybofey’s Sheila Breen and Rhonda Russell got the better of the sudden death play-off with Narin’s Mary McCann and Grainne Cafferty at the 21st hole.

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