Holder Chrissie Sheedy’s tilt at a remarkable twelfth Leinster Matchplay title begins at Navan with a repeat of the 2022 final against Liz Quinn (Collinstown) at St. Bridget’s, which the Ryston star won by 2&1.

Should Chrissie pass that test she could soon be anticipating a repeat of her 2011 and 2018 final meetings with Ryston colleague Tara Dillon. Tara must first deal with Dublin Inter-County player Tracey Smith (Lucan).

The great Margaret Hogan (Tullamore) was a two-time winner of this championship away back in the 1980s as well as reaching three other finals, including last year’s decider. Margaret received a bye into the 2025 second round, in which she will face the winner of the Marian Courtney (Ryston) v. Kathleen Geraghty (Skryne) tie.

Marian captured Leinster Matchplay titles in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2023. Winner of the Junior Matchplay crown at Gaeil Colmcille in 1994, Kathleen added the National Over 55s Senior Grade Strokeplay championship in 2017.

Reigning National Matchplay champion Amy Galvin (Tullamore) will bring her excellent early season form into her opener against Ryston’s Margaret Keogh, winner of the provincial intermediate championship at this year’s venue in 2017.

The victor in that one will then face either 2019 defeated finalist Helen Greagsbey (Ierne) or Oldcastle’s Margaret Reilly, the 2022 Leinster Intermediate Strokeplay runner-up.

Reigning National Intermediate Strokeplay champ Valerie Rogers (Cloghogue) will be in action against former Dublin Matchplay winner Siobhan Keely (Lucan), a regular podium finisher with the Dubs in the Inter-County arena.

A win for Siobhan could soon pit her against her great friend and clubmate Glenda Hoey. But first, Glenda is confronted by past National Matchplay and Leinster Strokeplay winner Paula Lynch. (Oldcastle).

Twenty players contest including 2023 champion Barbara Murphy (Seapoint) will contend for the Intermediatte championship. Barbara opens her championship with a clash against her namesake, 2023 Leinster Strokeplay runner-up Barbara Furlong (Lucan), one of four preliminary round matches.

The survivor of the “Battle of the Barbaras” will play reigning National Junior Strokeplay champion Ashlene McKevitt (Cloghogue) in the first round proper.

All Ireland Ladies Matchplay Nett Cup holder Marion Gannon Kelly (McDonagh) also plays in the preliminary round versus 2024 Meath Matchplay champion Geraldine Brannigan (Royal Meath).

There’s a preliminary round assignment too for 2018 All Ireland Ladies Over-55 Intermediate Strokeplay champion Mairead O’Toole (St. Bridget’s) who faces 2019 Leinster Mixed Foursomes champion Margaret Conneely (Trim), who was Leinster Matchplay runner-up at Trim in 2019.

Current Leinster Strokeplay champion Christina Foley (Athgarvan) is drawn to play the winner of the Marion Gannon Kelly v. Geraldine Brannigan match.

2023 runner-up Susan Ritchie (RGSC) awaits the winner between former Dublin Junior Strokeplay and Matchplay champion Martina Tierney (Lucan) and Trim’s Bridie Cummins, a regular podium finisher at the Leinster Mixed Foursomes.

2024 Junior Matchplay champion Maria Cranney (Cloghogue) is relatively player on the circuit. Maria will play one of the most experienced performers around, Ursula Dowd (Navan), 1987 winner at senior level in Poulaphouca.

Audrey Donnelly (MacBride) boasts a tremendous record in the Leinster Matchplay championships, having collected three junior gold medals and one intermediate silver gong since 2018. Audrey opens her latest campaign against Marie Dooley, the 2021 Dublin Strokeplay champion from RGSC.

The field is completed by 2025 Kildare Matchplay champion Laura Fogarty (Athgarvan), 2023 provincial Strokeplay runner-up Annette Dowling (Trim), last year’s junior semi-finalist Angela Connolly (Eden) and Teresa Fagan (Royal Meath), who has been a regular podium finisher at provincial level for upwards of two decades.

Players from Cloghogue and Royal Meath dominate the 17-strong Junior entry. The Co. Down club field six contenders (including 2024 National Junior Strokeplay runner-up Karen McVerry along with Darlene Parr, a session winner at last year’s Leinster Mixed Foursomes) while their Clonee counterparts have another half-dozen on view (featuring former Leinster Mixed Foursomes winner Sharon Haines and Vivienne Lennon who impressed at the recent National Ladies Social day at McDonagh).

Hoping to upset that dominant representation will be the likes of Ann Williams (Ryston), Westmeath Inter-County player Sinead Lynam (Rochfortbridge) and Hillary Walsh (Ashgrove). Ann was runner-up in 2022 and 2024 while Hillary reached the 2023 final.

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