A little bit of History was written last weekend when Norma Buckley became the first lady member to win the coveted George O'Keefe Memorial Trophy ahead of a large field of players which included most of the top players in the club.

Norma returned a very creditable 46 pts, enough even to relegate a player of the calibre of Mick Cahill (45pts) to second place. However Mick did win the the Gents 1st nett prize, no mean feat considering he is playing off a minus scratch handicap.

Paul Doyle (44pts) took the gross prize with Jim Noonan (43pts) capturing the 2nd Nett prize.

In the Ladies section, Liz Ducey (38pts) won the 0/10 category with Beth Power 32pts capturing the 11/18 category prize.

There was yet another surprise awaiting all those at the well attended prize giving ceremony at the Clubhouse on Sunday night. After Nell O'Keefe had presented her late husband's prizes to the various winners, the chairman of Fermoy GAA Pitch and Putt club Mr Joe Lillis presented a very rare honour on behalf of the club on two ladies who have distinguished themselves by their work for the club since its foundation more than 40 years ago.

Both Nell O'Keeffe and Mary O'Brien still promote the game which their respective late husbands did so much for in their time with us, with their dedication and loyalty helping the club to become one of the best in Cork.

The decision of the Committee in presenting Honourary Life Membership to both Nell and Mary was one that was a well kept secret but was warmly welcomed by all present as one that was well deserved by both ladies. As one who was very much involved in those early days of stone picking etc to lay out the first course, I can join and endorse the club's gesture and add that we all remember and enjoy the hospitality and the craic which we shared in those days with Mary and Nell and indeed many others also.

One of those memories which will always be cherished, is of Mary and her sons and daughters arriving with the tea and sandwiches and feeding the whole crowd in the days before we ever had a clubhouse or any facilities on the premises. So while congratulating both Nell and Mary, let us not forget that the day really belonged to Norma Buckley who "bucked" the trend and struck a blow for the ladies on the course. Well done to all. This weekend will feature another competition which will really bring out the players, it is known as the Doyle Family weekend of Stroke play, this is one of at least five competitions in which a prospective winner of the Player of the Year Trophy must take part in if you are to be considered for the honour later in the year. PRESENTATION TO FR CARVILL ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON: As already announced, the priests and the congregation of St Patrick's Parish in Fermoy will have their own bit of celebrating next Sunday afternoon in the Fermoy GAA clubhouse.

There they will officially say goodbye to their beloved curate of the past six years Rev Fr Andrew Carvill who has recently been transferred to the Ballynoe Parish in East Cork.

On Sunday last, the Parishioners had their chance to support this venture and ensure that the Parish was able to mark the occasion in a most fitting manner for the much loved and respected Dublin born priest who, incidentally, was ordained in our own St Patrick's Church six years ago.

The reception and presentation is timed to take place at 5pm and all are welcome. TOWN GRIDLOCKED ONCE AGAIN: Fermoy Town experienced severe traffic disruptions on Saturday morning last due to ongoing work on the flood relief scheme on the Brian Boro Sq side of the Bridge.

Despite the best efforts of the gardai to ensure that all drivers got their fair chance to drive through the town, there were long hold ups on the roads leading into town from all directions.

Thankfully the restrictions were lifted around lunch time and traffic quickly returned to normal, it does seem that this work will now take place nightly from 7pm to 7am and this is to be welcomed.

Surely an arrangement can be made with the owners of the toll booth on the by-pass to allow the free passage of cars and trucks from one side of town to the other during this period and so free up the town for the use of shoppers and businesses. VINTAGE GROUP HIT THE ROAD AGAIN: As they have been doing for many years past, the Avondhu Valley Vintage Group were out in strength on Sunday last when they gathered together at the Car Park in St Colman's College playing fields on College Rd.

The event was their annual charity outing to Castlelyons, Conna, Curraglass and Tallow. Their well prepared and well turned out cars and tractors were an impressive sight as they purred along the winding country roads of this beautiful landscape.

This year it was the turn of the organisation for the Heart Children of Ireland of which local head of the certified public accountants Gabriel O'Flynn is the National Chairman. The journey ended with a barbecue at Clondulane which no doubt the drivers and collectors thoroughly enjoyed before winding their merry way home again on their weary vehicles. FOOTBALLERS DISAPPOINT: Once again the Fermoy Footballers disappointed their mentors and followers by failing to win a first round game when they met Aghabullogue at Ballyclough on Friday night last.

Ok the team was minus two very good influential players who would have had a steadying influence on their colleagues, nevertheless the team selected was strong enough looking on paper at least, to have been able to handle the opposition on view.

That they did not perform to anything like their league form was baffling and most disappointing to themselves, their mentors who had put an awful amount of work into preparing them for this game, and also their followers who were expecting much more from their players.

The players appeared very nervous as on several occasions passes which should have been directed to a colleague went very much astray.

For a report on this game read Noel Horgan's account on our sports section.