Bantry Bay overcame Cobh this afternoon to advance to the Munster Finals of the AIG Junior Cup. Bandon was the venue for the South Munster area final and the course was like the weather – spectacular. It was an eagerly awaited final, both team had qualified for the area final as hosts in their respective sections. Despite an early charge from Cobh, Bantry Bay took hold of the contest. Darren Devlin won a point for Cobh but Bantry Bay won with Mel Deasy, Patrick O’Riordan and Darragh O’Sullivan Connell. As Bantry had three points in the match between Neil Crowley and Eoin Wilson was called in and the final score was recorded as 3.5-1.5.
Gallery: AIG Junior Cup Area Final, Bantry Bay v Cobh
Bantry Bay now join Mallow (AIG Senior Cup) in booking their place in Tralee next month for the Munster finals.
AIG Junior Cup, South Munster Area Final
Bantry Bay 3.5 – 1.5 Cobh
John Enderson lost to Darren Devlin
Mel Deasy beat Tony McKeown
Patrick O’Riordan beat Jamie Bates
Neil Crowley halved with Eoin Wilson
Darragh O’Sullivan Connell beat Patrick Donnachie
John Murphy had two matchplay wins today to advance to the third round of the North of Ireland Open in Royal Portrush. They were two contrasting rounds, he needed a huge putt on the last this morning to get past Kiet Van Der Weele but made short work of Andrew Mulholland this afternoon. Murphy always seemed to have a narrow edge over his opponent from Holland this morning but it took a 25 foot putt on the last to go one up and advance to the last 32. This afternoon he faced Castlerock’s Mulholland and solid golf – and a good few birdies – saw him go five up at one stage near the end of the front nine. In the end he closed put the match on the 15th with a 4&3 win. He now goes on to play Derek Downie from Kirkistown Castle. It’ll be another early start for Murphy with a 7.45am tee time. He’ll be hoping for another long day tomorrow with two rounds scheduled to bring the competition down to the final four golfers.
Muskerry hosted the local league finals last Sunday and they came away with three wins in the battle of the “four Cork clubs”. Home advantage may or may not have been a factor but in any case Muskerry won all three competitions in which they were competing. There was one win each for Cork, Douglas and Monkstown in the other three finals.
James Sugrue is one of three likely Cork qualifiers to make it through to the match play stages of the North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush. The Mallow man recovered from a disappointing front nine one the championship course that saw him turn on +3. Sugrue fought back with three birdies to level his score on the back nine on the Dunluce links, he finished with a 36 hole total of 140 (-3) to claim a place in the top 25. Sugrue’s level par 72 was one of the better scores today with many golfers failing to get around the difficult course links without dropping shots. Kinsale’s Cathal Butler carded a three over par 75 today, when added to his 66 from yesterday the Kinsale man also qualified comfortably on 2 under par. He had 15 pars and a birdie, but two consecutive double bogies on the front nine cost him a few spots on the leaderboard. Conditions were much better for day two of the championship which saw 300 golfers play over both courses at the famous resort on the northern coast.
Kinsale’s Cathal Butler opened with a very impressive 66 at the North of Ireland Amateur Open yesterday. Playing on the Valley links in Royal Portrush the Maynooth student shot a round of -5 to grab a tie for fifth place. Butler went out in -1 after three birdies and two bodies on the opening nine, but a powerful back nine saw him return in -4. Birdies on the 10th & 11th were followed by an eagle on the par five 16th. That see’s him just two shots off the lead held by Rowan Lester.
Frankfield Golf Range continues to develop, and owners Coleman and Michael Ryan have succeeded in building a wonderful practice facility on the grounds where Mick Ryan Snr built a golf course over 30 years ago. A new short game area have been developed and now custom fitting has now arrived in Frankfield. The new fitting centre at the range provides golfers with hundreds of options when it comes to investing in new equipment. Working with McGuirks, Frankfield’s resident PGA Professionals Michael Ryan and David Whyte can match shafts with heads and grips to provide a truly customised solution for each golfer. Frankfield has teamed up with McGuirks to provide the new service. The retail chain has a shop just 800m from the range and now golfers can test the latest equipment options under the watchful eye of a PGA Professional. A full range of heads are 
Cork Golf News 