Club News
Captains Away Weekend
Congratulations to John Martin who won the Captains Away Weekend in Knightsbrook County Meath. He was inspired by the European Ryder Cup team to acquire the coveted prize of an Adare Manor 2027 Ryder Cup Jersey, presented to him by Vice Captain Dr. Enda Cullen

Donegal League finalist in a battle with Buncrana
Cathal Canning's reigning Donegal League champs have their work cut out to hold onto the Paddy Carr Memorial Trophy after Sunday's first leg ended in a 4-1 success for Buncrana.
The contest was played in majestic autumnal sunshine on the shores of Lough Swilly and, as anticipated the home team were strong on their own patch.
Portsalon's opening pairings of Ryan McGettigan & Jack Patton and Johnny Shields & Shane Magee both saw their matches end in defeat on the 17th green.
In match three, Kevin Boyce and Eamonn McConigley came up with a superb display to close out a 5&4 win and give Portsalon the match they desperately wanted.
Behind them, Davitt Walsh and Stephen Connolly were defeated on 16th hole after another close contest and, in the final match, Paddy McGowan and Justin Green saw their hopes dashed on the 18th green as Buncrana claimed victory on the tricky par three.
It was certainly a gallant effort from the entire Portsalon side, with the matches played in a friendly and competitive spirit. Buncrana have a lead to hold onto for the second leg on Sunday 12th October in Portsalon but the home side will know there is little in it in terms of holes and will be setting their stall out to get the four matches or more they need to retain the Donegal League.

Clubs Results
Wednesday September 24th
Winner: John Logue (16) – 40 pts
Runner-up: Clive Davison (10) – 38pts

Saturday September 27th
Winner: Trevor Duncan (18) – 42pts
Runner-up: Ray Devenney (15) – 42pts

Sunday September 28th
Winner: Ray Devenney (14) – 43 pts
Runner-up: John Joe McGowan (24) – 42pts
Gross: Kevin McGonagle (7) – 31 gross pts
Third: Joe Ferry (14) – 42 pts


Ladies News

Ladies Winter Links
Incredibly good scores were returned by the ladies, on the first day of the ladies’ winter links in Portsalon Golf Club on Thursday 25th September. The shot of the day, came from Edith Neely of Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club who recorded, to much excitement, her very first Hole in One at the 10th Hole. The next ladies winter links will be played on Thursday 30th October.

Winner
Evelyn O’Malley (40) Letterkenny Golf Club 44pts
Runner – Up – Mary Ferry (30) 42pts
Gross – Bernie McQuade (6) 27pts
3rd – Heather Fleming (37) 40pts
4th - Edith Neely (27) 39pts
5th - Carol McDaid (36) 38pts
6th - Sheila King (38) 38pts

Front 9 – Eileen McLarnon (31) 21pts
Back 9 – Suzanne Gallagher (21) 21pts

Two’s
Edith Neely (27) 1 @10th
Sandra McMonagle (17) 2 @ 10th
Madge Kelly (25) 2 @ 15th
Ann Currie (19) 2 @ 10th
Anne Sweeney (28) 2 @ 10th


Mary McDaid Cup
Saturday 27th September brought the teams from Portsalon, Letterkenny and Rosapenna together to celebrate and remember lady golfers no longer with us. Happy memories of many of our friends who took to the fairways in all sorts of weather, sharing the love of the sport and enjoying the camaraderie. Many thanks to Roisin Kerr who presented the cup on behalf of the McDaid family.

Winners Mary McDaid Cup - Portsalon Golf Club 278 pts

Individual Winner - Mary Barrett Portsalon GC 43pts


Teams
1st - 114pts
Mary Barrett Portsalon GC
Anne Condon Letterkenny GC
Bríd McMenamin Rosapenna GC


Runners-Up 110 pts
Eileen McLarnon Portsalon GC
Margaret Harvey Letterkenny GC
Marina Hamilton Rosapenna GC


3rd - 108 pts
Deirdre Hensey Portsalon GC
Katrina Rainey Letterkenny GC
Terri Martin Rosapenna GC


Yellow Ball Team
Pamela Clinton Portsalon GC
Marian O’Sullivan Letterkenny GC
Kit Boyce Rosapenna GC


Play in Pink

An Open Ladies and Gents Fourball scramble will be held on the 10th Oct All money received from entries will go directly to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.
Tickets for a Draw will also be on sale with all proceeds also going to the charity.
Cost : €10 members and €40 visitors
To Book – https://visitors.brsgolf.com/portsalon#//open-competition
Timesheet is now open. Book online at the above link or call the shop on 074 915 9459.
Weekend Members Competition
Winner - Anne Speedie 72 Nett
Runner-Up Pamela Clinton 73 Nett BOT

Club Results
Saturday 13th September
Winner: Dylan Dorrian (30) – 39 pts
Runner-up: Justin Green (11) – 36 pts
Gross: Jack Friel (4) – 29 gross pts
Third: Eoin O'Donnell (22) – 34 pts

Sunday 14th September
Winner: Joe Hensey (18) – 36 pts

Bar/Restaurant Catering Franchise.
Tenders are invited from suitably qualified and experienced persons for the Bar/Restaurant Catering Franchise at Portsalon Golf Club commencing January 2026.
Full tender document available on request.
Contact:
Daragh Lyons
Portsalon Golf Club
Croaghross
Portsalon
Email: [email protected]

Ladies News

Past Captain’s Day
Sat 20th September will see the Portsalon Past Lady Captain’s take to the course to celebrate a great annual event. The evening will finish off with dinner in the clubhouse, served by Roisin and her staff.

Mary McDaid Cup team
Due to inclement weather last weekend, the qualifying event for the team has been rescheduled and will be played on the 19th - alternate day, or the main day 21st September.

Weekend members competition.
Congratulations to Tricia Bradley who returned an excellent score of 42 points.

Club News
Donegal League defence to go the distance
Cathal Canning and his Donegal League squad have booked their place in the final after a tense win over Strabane this evening.
The second leg was amid gusting winds in Strabane, with Portsalon leading 4-1 from the first leg.
The home side were always likely to push things to the wire in their attempts to overturn that deficit and so it proved.
Keeping things tight was going to be the order of the day, with Portsalon attempting to grab that one game on the road.
The opening two pairings, Ryan McGettigan & Shane Magee and Johnny Shields & Jack Friel were defeated 2&1, enough to leave Portsalon still five holes to the good.
The remaining three games on the course were all on holes 17 and 18 with the tension ratcheted up.
Eamonn McConigley and Kevin Boyce led their game 1up and won the 18th for a 2up win and the point Portsalon needed to secure the win.
Behind, both pairings of Davitt Walsh & Stephen Connolly and Alistair Rodger and Paddy McGowan were 1 down through 17 holes, ensuring there wasn't enough holes left for Strabane to overturn the outcome and the final two games were called in.
Well done to Team Captain Cathal on reaching the final once more, where his side will face Buncrana GC for the Paddy Carr Donegal League crown and the chance for Portsalon to land back-to-back wins for the first time.

Donegal Seniors falls short in Murvagh
Commiserations to Team Captain Joe Hensey and his gallant Donegal Seniors squad after they came up agonisingly short in their county final against Donegal GC in Murvagh on Sunday.
Portsalon took a 3.5 to 1.5 advantage from the first leg on home soil as they travelled through the gap for the second set of matches.
It was always going to be a tough challenge for the visiting side against a strong selection from Murvagh.
Portsalon's opening pairing of Shane Magee and Pascal Cullen were defeated and matches three and four also went Murvagh's way despite the best effort of Enda Cullen & Eunan McGlynn and Alistair Rodger & Brian Devlin.
Hope sprang eternal for Portsalon as Diarmuid Logue and Philip Durning won match two on the course to put victory overall in the mix.
It left the final pairing of Chuck McTaggart and John Logue with the game hinging on their tie. Their match was close from start to finish and came through 16 holes all-square but it was Murvagh that went 1up after 17, enough to seal a county title for their Captain Donie McIntyre and his squad with Portsalon beaten on holes.
A tough loss for skipper Joe and his troops after a good summer, the second year in a row they have fallen one short, but they certainly cannot be faulted on effort and commitment.
Congratulations to Murvagh on their hard-earned victory and for the sporting manner in which both legs of the final were played.

Club Results
Wednesday September 3rd
Winner: Colm McConigley ( 8 ) – 39 pts
Saturday September 6th
Winner: Cian Page (5) – 40 pts
Runner-up: Seamus Conner (1) – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Kevin Hensey (4) – 31 gross pts

Sunday September 7th
Winner: Ivan Brunt (20) – 38 pts
Runner-up: Fergal Coll (21) – 35 pts
Gross: Shaun Strain ( 8 ) – 26 gross pts
Third: Gerard Duffy (13) – 34 pts

Ladies News

Past Captains
The annual past Captains day is Saturday 20th March. Lady Captain Roisin
McCormack looks forward to welcoming Portsalon Golf Club’s past captains. If
you have not responded to your invite indicating playing and attending the
evening meal, please let her know.

Mary McDaid Cup
The annual inter-club Mary McDaid Cup will be played on the 27th September.
Notification to follow of qualifying dates for the team.

Weekend Members Competition
Winner – Eileen McLarnon 35 pts
Runner-Up – Mary Barrett 33pts

Club News
Claire McGonagle wins President's Prize
Claire McGonagle mastered the toughest of playing conditions on Saturday to land the final Major of the season in Portsalon as she won Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize in the wind and rain.
The conditions were far from appealing but the large turnout reflected the esteem in which Madam President is held and the chance to claim the final major of the season was enough to entice the players out in the rain.
Claire's tally of 40 points was enough to secure the top prize, with just one point to spare on a trio of 39-point finishers.

Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize – Saturday August 30th
Winner: Claire McGonagle – 40 pts
Runner-up: Bernard McGettigan – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Jack Friel – 28 gross pts
Third: Damien Buchanan – 39 pts BOT
First Nine: Noel Gillespie – 21 pts
Second Nine: Connor Scallon – 20 pts
Nearest the Pin: Dean Doherty
Longest Drive: Brian McAleer
Past President: Garett Horkan
Visitor: John Mee
Ladies Second: Frances Shannon – 33 pts
Ladies Gross: Roisin McCormack – 19 gross pts
Ladies Third: Anne Busche – 31 pts BOT
Beginner Lady: Erin Scanlon
Ladies Longest Drive: Claire McGonagle
Ladies Nearest the Pin: Pamela Clinton-McDermott
Ladies First Nine: Aedeen Conway – 16 pts
Ladies Second Nine: Karen McGlinchey – 16 pts
Club Results

Wednesday August 27th
Winner: Bernard Nash (25) – 42 pts
Sunday August 31st
Winner: Vincent Bradley (22) – 30 pts

Team News
Another busy weekend in store for Portsalon's remaining teams. On Saturday, Cathal Canning takes his Donegal League squad to Strabane for the second leg of their semi-final. Portsalon are clutching a 4-1 advantage from the first leg, but it is sure to be a tough test against a strong Strabane team on home soil. The winners will face Buncrana GC in the 2025 final after they overcame Murvagh in their semi-final on Saturday.
On Sunday, Joe Hensey and his Donegal Over 55s are heading Thru the Gap to tackle Murvagh in second leg of their final. Portsalon have their noses in front after the first leg, 3.5 to 1.5, and once again a battle to the winning post is almost certain. After missing out at the final hurdle 12 months ago, Joe and his panel will be eager to see it over the line now and he's picked a strong side to go into battle. Best of luck to both Portsalon teams over the weekend.

Ladies News

President’s Day
While it is true to say that some pilots found the conditions tough 30,000 feet above the ground, the same could not be said for Claire McGonagle who embraced the conditions on President Mae Blaney’s Day in Portsalon Golf Club on Saturday 30thAugust. While flights were being diverted from Dublin, and unable to land, the ball of Claire McGonagle remained on course and on target.

Playing off 6hcp, Claire’s gusty performance returned an incredible 40 points to win the overall President’s Prize and final major of the year. 5 Pars and 2 Birdies on the front 9 were quickly followed by 8 Pars and 1 birdie on the Back 9, which also included the longest drive for the Ladies.

As the third lady to hold the office of President of Portsalon Golf Club, Mae Blaney, who is also a past Lady Captain, has been a committed member of the club over many years serving on the Ladies Committee and currently as Chair of Council. She is universally respected by the members, and that was proven by the huge turnout in conditions that really dictated a cosy lie-in on Saturday morning.

Congratulations to everyone, who in teeing off at the first, showed Madam President the esteem in which she is held.


Results Mae Blaney’s President’s Day


2025 President’s Prize Winner – Claire McGonagle 40pts


Ladies Results


2nd – Frances Shannon 33pts Bot
Gross – Roisin McCormack 19 gross points
3rd – Anne Busch 31pts Bot
Front 9 – Aedeen Conway 16 pts
Back 9 – Karen McGlinchey 16pts
Nearest the Pin – 10th Hole -Pamela Clinton McDermott
Longest Drive – 11th Hole -Claire McGonagle
Beginner Lady – Erin Scanlon


Ulster Women’s Silver and Broze Medals 2025

Representing Portsalon Golf Club in Bangor on the 1st Sept, the winner of the 2025 Silver Medal is Claire McGonagle. The Ulster area finals will determine who goes forward to play in Headford on Oct 1st in the All Ireland Silver and Bronze Medal Finals 2025. Lady Captain Roisin McCormack and the ladies branch send good luck wishes to Claire.


Weekend members results.


While President’s Day was the main event of the weekend, it was also the August medal competition. The blustery weather conditions on Sunday meant a valid competition could not be determined, as not enough players entered.
I don’t usually post results if there is no valid competition, but two ladies took to the course on Friday, the Alternate Day and played the Stroke Competition. What is special about these ladies is, they are part of the lady beginner group who took up golf in 2024. It is indeed wonderful to see the ladies progressing and enjoying competitive golf!
Erin Scanlon and Maeve Ward, we will definitely be hearing more about you in the coming seasons!