Galway’s fairways queen aiming for more success

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

When 2013 Galway Sports Stars of the Year winner, Portumna golfer Suzanne Corcoran receives her award at the black tie function in the Ardilaun Hotel on Saturday night, it will cap off what has been a remarkable 12 months for the Irish international.

When asked what was the overall highlight, Corcoran (nee Kenny) struggles to answer. That in itself is an indication. In the end, she narrows it down to her two most significant wins – the Irish Senior Women’s Close and the European Senior Ladies Team Championship – before, again, side-stepping a definitive answer.

“It is a difficult question,” she smiles. “I mean Woodenbridge (Irish Senior Women’s) was for me and the other (European Championship) was for Ireland. I suppose, there is something wonderful about winning for your country and being part of a team I think. The celebration is bigger.”

For Corcoran, looking back on 2013 has to be surreal, particularly given her year began in ignominious fashion as she and Connacht failed in all three contests against the other provinces in the inter-provincials in Castle Dargan in April. “We’ll gloss over that,” she chuckles.

However, a subsequent trip to Scotland with the Irish Seniors ignited her season. Having lined out in the green pullover the previous year, she was again central to Ireland winning the Mary McKenna Cup at West Kilbride before she helped Portumna retain their Connacht Cup when defeating Roscommon in May.

In June, the Lorrha native showed strongly in the ILGU Senior Connacht Championships – open to golfers of all ages and from all parts of the country – when she finished second to Amy Farrell from Moate at Athlone Golf Club.

However, Corcoran felt she had played well enough in the competition to make her bid for a top four finish at the Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship in Woodenbridge , Avoca in July, which would secure her place on the Irish team heading for the European Championships in Slovenia later in the year.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.