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The Short Game

Written by Mal Keaveney

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

CENTENARY celebrating Monkstown GC is this week’s venue for the Bulmers sponsored All-Ireland Cups and Shields Finals, with no less that four Shannonside teams involved at the competitive end of championships that have been ongoing now for several months.

FROM a very early stage in the Junior Cup, Adare Manor GC have been rated as serious bidders for this prestigious championship.
Tom Griffin’s troops barely put a foot wrong in winning out the provincial championship in tremendous style and their All-Ireland semi-final opponents on this Wednesday are Balina GC of Connacht. Nass GC and Ballycastle GC are scheduled to meet in the other semi-final, with the final down for decision tomorrow morning.
Assisted by another former club captain Maurice Noonan, Adare’s side includes a couple of teenagers in David Carroll and Cormac Behan, leading qualifier at the STL Limerick Boys at Newcastle West last month, along with experienced performers such as the Holmpatrick Cup winner Brian Hickey, John Hickey, Martin Costello, Damian Moloney, Declan O’Brien, Michael Fitzgerald, Seamus Toomey and Damien Harrington, son of 1979 Irish Close winner Jackie and brother of Limerick PGA Professional Lee.
This is also a strokeplay singles event consisting of five matches.
Adare have just once tasted All-Ireland glory and that was through its magnificent Pierce Purcell team of a little over 20 years ago, an outfit that included current manager Tom Griffin.
Limerick GC, exactly 20 years ago, were the last local side to emerge triumphant in the Junior Cup at All-Ireland level.

CASTLETROY GC are once again involved in the business end of the coveted Irish Senior Cup.
Twelve months ago, the team swept through Munster only to be beaten narrowly at the semi-final stage at national level by eventual winners Co. Sligo at Shandon Park GC, near Belfast. To their eternal credit, mainly the same bunch of players are back and leading contenders which they last secured in 1993. Interestingly, two of the Co. Sligo players, Martin McTernan and Keith O’Neill, have since turned professional. Co. Sligo GC and Warrenpoint GC contest the second semi-final.
The Senior Cup is a five-person singles-style tournament, with Castletroy able to select from all of last year’s selection – Stephen Moloney, Cian Daly, Eamon Haugh, Jason Tobin and John Kavanagh – along with Fergie Harroll, Redmond McDonnell and Darragh Walsh. Former captain Ged O’Dwyer is team manager, with Dave Mahedy new to the set-up in his role as fitness coach.
Castletroy are not in action until Friday when their semi-final opponents are 2003 winners Portmarnock GC, with the final listed for the following morning.

FOR Limerick GC this is threatening to be a very special year, with the Ballyclough involved in both the Pierce Purcell and Senior Cup tournaments.
Castlebar GC are first-up for Limerick in the semi-final of the Pierce Purcell tomorrow (Thursday), a provincial title they annexed much earlier in the year, and if all goes to plan here tomorrow’s final will be against either Warrenpoint GC or Royal Tara GC. Limerick’s team includes half a dozen veterans, all of whom were involved in the club’s fine run as far as the Munster Final of the JB Carr (over 60) tournament in recent weeks.
After three relatively recent defeats at the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland Championship, Limerick will be hoping to rectify this situation and move a step closer to gaining a pennant that a local club last won thanks to Adare Manor GC way back in 1985.
The Purcell, launched in 1970 in memory of Professor Purcell, caters for handicappers of 12 and over, and this foursomes event remains arguably the most enjoyable of the five inter-club competitions and doubtless it will prove a huge success at Monkstown GC again over the next few days.
Ger Naughton, Ger Malone and Paddy Power are in charge of a large squad that includes John Reilly, Declan Barriscale, Eamon Grimes, Eamon Kirby, John Gleeson, Ger Gleeson, Joe Kemmy, Denis Ryan, John Malone, Michael Ryan, Bobby Fleming, Ronan Mulvihill, Brendan Slattery, Joe O’Donoghue, Michael Aherne and Paul O’Donnell.

LIMERICK are in the running once to lift the Barton Shield, a competition in which they last reigned supreme way back in 1976.
Athlone GC provide semi-final action for Limerick this Wednesday morning, with the other pairing between Portmarnock GC and Belvoir Park GC. The Limerick side is a formidable bunch, including international Pat Murray, Ger Vaughan, Mike Kemmy, Mike O’Kelly, Martin Poucher, Conor Carroll, Vinnie O’Dowd, Dermot Morris and Juan Fitzgerald, under the leadership of Peter English and Ger Vaughan.
It’s another competition that boasts of five foursome games.

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