East Cork beak Cobh hearts

By Niall O’Shea

East Cork broke Cobh hearts again last weekend as they progressed from the Pierce Purcell qualifiers at Mahon.  On Saturday they accounted for hosts Mahon and on Sunday morning they beat Monkstown.  On the other side of the draw Cobh beat Castlemartyr, Fermoy and Mallow to advance to the venue final.  It was the same match up as the Bruen qualifier two weeks ago but Cobh started brightly and held the advantage through most of the afternoon.

The first two matches went to East Cork with Cobh winning the next two in.  Cobh were two up with two to play in the final match and looked like closing out the match.  East Cork’s Cian McCarthy and Ronan Curtin had different ideas however as they won both 17 and 18.  The match went back up the 19^th (1^st hole) and Cobh found the trees on the left while East Cork were on the green in two.  It took Cobh another three shots to get onto the green, giving East Cork two putts for the win.  The first putt finished two feet from the hole and the game was conceded.  Selectors Mick Hayes, JJ Sheehan and Maurice Conway will have a job now to select their top five pairs for the area final.  In the other qualifying venue, hosts Bandon emerged after a less dramatic win over Kinsale in the venue final.  Bandon beat Frankfield on Saturday and beat Macroom on Sunday morning.  They faced Kinsale in the afternoon and although it started evenly, Bandon had built a strong lead at the halfway point and went on to win on a final score of 4-1.  The area final takes place in Monsktown on Sunday 8^th June, starting at 4pm.

The popular Lee Valley Junior Scratch Cup took place on Sunday and the competition was again run in conjunction with Top Golfer.  The event is now in its fifth year and is one of the highest attended events on the Top Golfer schedule.  Over 160 golfers battled with the course on Sunday and Youghal’s Don Murphy came out on top with a three over par 75.  East Cork’s Noel O’Mahony’s took second place with the only 76 and a number of players tied on 77 for the minor placings.  The included James Burns, Killian McCarthy, Seamus Cronin and Brian Twomey.  Bandon’s Eamonn Collins took the nett prize with a 68 and the Lee Valley prize went to Ger Kirby.

The Castletroy Senior Scratch Cup took place on Sunday and several Cork golfers went in search of a win and some order of merit points.  Niall Gorey won the event with a two under par total of 142.  He was second last week in Ballybunion and his return to form will be welcomed by both Muskerry and Munster.  Fota’s Sean Barry took third place with a 4 over par total and Cork John Hickey won the second round prize.

This weekend Monkstown hold their Intermediate Scratch Cup on Saturday, and Mahon hold their junior, intermediate and minor cups on Saturday and Sunday.  Timesheets available from both clubs.