12th June 2011: Fourth National Matchplay Title for Tullamore's Margaret Hogan

National Matchplay Finals @ Collinstown June 4th - 6th
The Ladies final was a close affair on Monday afternoon with both players nip and tuck for the duration. Margaret Hogan was always in the lead but still was only two up by the 13th. Tara replied strongly over the next three holes to draw level after 16 and remained so after 18 holes. With 21 holes played this situation continued although Margaret had drawn ahead after 19 but was pulled back on the 21st by Tara. Tara then took the lead on the 23rd to be in turn pulled back by Margaret on the 24th to bring the match level. A further win on the 26th brought Margaret to 1 up. Tara replied immediately on the 27th to bring the match back to level. With nine holes left it was all to play for. Margaret drew first blood going one up after 29, a lead which she increased to 2 up after 33. Tara won the 34 to leave herself just one down with two holes to go and paving the way to a grandstand finish. Tara had a putt on the 35th to draw level but her putt slid agonisingly by. Both players were on the 36th, Margaret with a fourteen foot putt was first to play and left her putt stone dead Tara holed her three foot putt to win the hole and bring the match to sudden death. Both players had missed eight foot putts at the first and halved the hole. The 38th hole saw both players hole out for birdies, Margaret first from 7 feet followed by a brave putt by Tara to save the match from 5 feet. On to hole 39 where both players missed the green but chipped well to within three feet and both got their putt to take the match to hole no. 40. The tension was definitely getting to both players at this stage, a nervous half on the 40th was followed by Tara conceding victory on the 41st where she pitched big and failed to get on the green with her first chip. It was a tremendously exciting match and Margaret well deserved this her fourth Matchplay Title. (Above report taken from ppui.ie)

The Offaly Co. Board would like to extend their sincere congratulations to Margaret who survived a tough weekend of pitch and putt at Collinstown through all seasons of weather to clinch her fourth National Matchplay title. Margaret had a Bye in her first round but overcame Cork's Linda O'Donovan convincingly in the second round match. Margaret then overcame the defending champion Chrissie Byrne (St. Bridgets) 4&3 in the Quarter-Final to set up a Semi-Final spot against Chrissie's older sister and past champion Marian Byrne, but played well to record a 5&4 victory and so set up a Final showdown with St. Bridget's Tara Dillon. Tara overcame Fermoy's Eleanor Walsh in the Semi-Final and Erry's Tracey McGrath in the Quarter-Final. In the Gents Section Deerpark's and reigning Irish Open Champion Damien Fleming claimed his inaugural National Title by defeating defending champion Chris Scannell from Cork in impressive fashion. Damien overcame the challenge of Meath's Patrick McBride in the Semi-Final and Cork's Ray Murphy in the Quarter-Final. The best of our Offaly competitors were Erry's William Buckley Jnr. & Tullamore's Mick Hogan who both made it to the second stage, where William was beaten on the first extra tie hole against the eventual beaten Semi-Finalist Darren Collins of Cork and Mick was beaten by another Cork man Frank Dineen.