A smiling David O’Donovan pictured with the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup after winning the Mardyke Arena sponsored tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
Dave O’Donovan (Muskerry) has been selected on the Munster Senior Inter-Provincial team, and his selection was warmly welcomed by many who feel it’s a well deserved reward for his good play in 2015. O’Donovan had a very strong start to the season and won the prestigious Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup in April. Although he was limited to only a few order of merit events, Munster Captain Phil Cooney obviously liked what he saw when he watched O’Donovan in Lee Valley and later in Cork GC at the Munster Strokeplay. A happy Dave said: “I’m thrilled to bits obviously. Dues to a few family occasions I couldn’t play as much as I would have liked to in May. But I played well in Shannon and the Munster Strokeplay and the game it still good”. O’Donovan along with the team and management will aim to retain their title in Rossapena (Donegal) in early July.
Eanna Griffin (Waterford) pictured in action at the Munster Strokeplay Championship in Cork Golf Club.
Picture: Niall O’Shea
O’Donovan is joined on the roster by rookie, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) who made it onto the team through the order of merit. The four qualifiers from the order of merit were Gary Hurley, Eanna Griffin, Pat Murray and John Hickey. Although Gary Hurley qualified for the team via the order of merit, he is unable to take his place as he has been selected on the Irish team for the European Championships. Captain Cooney was left with five picks and he selected Robin Dawson and O’Donovan who were next best in the order of merit. Cork and Munster star Gary O’Flaherty also got the nod as did Geoff Linehan who in now in his fourth year as an interprovincial player. The other 2014 player to lose out is Niall Gorey. Although he played well in the Munster Strokeplay, Gorey’s form was mixed all through the early season and he was also affected by injury. Mark Shanahan, Ed Stack and Paul McCarthy must all have come close in the eyes of the selectors, but the team is now picked and they have three weeks to prepare for the championship.
Munster Team: SENIOR INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP (6-8 JULY 2015 AT ROSAPENNA GOLF CLUB, CO DONEGAL)
Cork Golf News 