Author: niall@corkgolfnews.com

Closing 68 gives Desmond a second Bruen Youths Title

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Sean Desmond Bruen Youths 2016

Bruen Youths winner Sean Desmond pictured with President Maura Minogue, Richard Cahill Sponsor, David Bruen and Captain Tom Purcell.   Pic courtesy Muskerry Golf Club

Despite playing nine rounds of golf in the last seven days, Sean Desmond still had plenty left in the tank today as he aimed to retain his Bruen Youths title in Muskerry.  The Monkstown member spent last week in Ballybunion at the Kerry Boys, losing out on Friday morning to the eventual winner John Murphy.  After Ballybunion Sean headed for Cork Golf Club and played a huge role in Monkstown’s Senior Cup win on Saturday.  After the luxury of a day off on Sunday, he went to Muskerry hoping to add his name to a select group by winning a second Bruen Youths title.  Desmond opened with a 76, which had him three off the lead which was held by Jack Howard from Fota Island.  A few golfers were lurking near the top of the leaderboard, Timmy Broderick, Jack Egan and Darren Hourihan were all within two shots of the lead.  Howard added a 75 to his total in the afternoon, meaning that Desmond would need to shoot a level par 71 to win.  As it happened, Desmond was on level par heading onto the 18th, and he Continue reading →

Wins for Monkstown & Cork but no joy for Fermoy; AIG Cups & Shields round-up

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Cork Golf Club was a hive of activity over the weekend.  With three pennants up for grabs, Monkstown, Cork and Fermoy went in search of glory.  With the course in Little Island in great shape, there was some great golf on display.  The Island was playing hard and fast, and the recent dry weather led a links like feel to the course.  There were wins for Cork and Monkstown but it was a step too far for Fermoy as they lost out in their semi-final with Tralee.

Munster Golf AIG Barton Shield 2016

Monkstown receive the Pennant for winning the Munster Golf AIG Senior Cup at Cork Golf Club.  Picture: Thos Caffrey / http://www.golffile.ie 

Monkstown won Munster AIG Senior Cup title for the first time on over half a century, beating Castletroy in an exciting Munster final.  12 months ago Sean Desmond won a dramatic match on the 20th green in Dungarvan to take Monkstown to a Senior Cup Munster Final.  Limerick beat them that day in the final, but Sean Desmond was again the hero, this time claiming the winning point on the 18th.  Desmond needed a point after Martin Poucher and Eoghan Long won their matches.  Andrew McCormack and Mark Campbell won for Castletroy so that left it all resting on Desmond’s match.  The 18 year old needed a half on the 18th to win the match and it looked doubtful when his second found the trees on the 18th.  Desmond played a great recovery shot that saw his ball pitch short of the green and run on to 15 feet.  Desmond calmly rolled the ball to less than a foot and that was enough to win the match and the crucial winning point for Monkstown.

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Murphy retains Kerry Boy’s Championship at Ballybunion

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John Murphy Kerry Boys 2016 TrophyIt’s been 30 years since anyone has managed to win back to back titles, and today John Murphy waited until the 19th hole to grasp back the trophy that he proudly won last year.

The Munster Boys Champion beat Monkstown’s Sean Desmond 4&3 in the morning semi-final.  The Monkstown man reached the same stage last year – and just like last year he will have to re-focus for tomorrow’s AIG Senior Cup when Monktown face Ballybunion.

In the final he faced Ballybunion’s Ronan Cross and a close match followed.  The pair were all-square through six holes but by the turn Murphy had a one hole advantage.  By the 12th Cross had turned the match and went one up, and he went two up on the 13th hole.  Murphy pulled one back on th 14th and he levelled the match on the 16th, setting it up for a thrilling finish.  Cross and Murphy halved the 17th and 18th, with some very impressive golf being played in tough conditions.  The match headed for the 19th Continue reading →

Showdown for Murphy & Desmond in Kerry Boys Championship

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John Murphy April 2016Holder John Murphy will face last year’s semi-finalist Sean Desmond in an all Cork semi-final at the Kerry Boys in Ballybunion.  The Kinsale and Monkstown golfers extended their stay in Ballybunion as they both won two rounds of matchplay golf today on the Cashen course.  Brian O’Connell and Eric Rumley lost out in this morning’s first round while Mark Healy got through the the quarter final.  Healy lost out this afternoon after a close match with Nenagh’s Scott O’Brien.  O’Brien will face home place Ronan Cross in the other semi-final.  There was little joy for Cork golfer in the plate, Charleville’s Cathal O’Carroll is the only remaining Cork representative.

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Kerry Boys Championship Semi-Final
8am Sean Desmond (Monkstown) v John Murphy (Kinsale)
8.10am Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) v Ronan Cross (Ballybunion)

Kerry Boys Plate Matchplay Semi-Final
8.20am Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) v Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick)
8.30am James Lawlor (Nass) v Cathal O’ Carroll (Charleville)

Kerry Boys Championship Quarter Final Results
Sean Desmond (Monkstown) beat Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) 2up
John Murphy (Kinsale) beat Luke Walsh (Killarney) 5/4
Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) beat Mark Healy (Kinsale) 1up
Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) beat Conor Meade (East Clare) 2/1

First Round Results
Sean Desmond (Monkstown) beat Jonathon Haydon (Royal Dublin) 5/3
Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) beat Iarla O’ Mahony (Ballybunion) 19th Hole
John Murphy (Kinsale) beat Dara Phelan (Faithlegg) 6/4
Luke Walsh (Killarney) beat Jason Davis (Carton House) 2/1
Mark Healy (Kinsale) beat David O’ Reilly (Carton House) 8/7
Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) beat Brian O’ Connell (Bandon) 1up
Conor Meade (East Clare) beat Darren Mulcahy (Killarney) 1up
Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) beat Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 19th

Plate Matchplay Quarter Final Results
Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) beat Jack Heffernan (Doneraile) 6/4
Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick) beat Ronan Hayes (East Clare) 2/1
James Lawlor (Nass) beat Eoin Magill (East Clare) 2up
Cathal O’ Carroll Charleville beat Conor Slevin (Charleville) 1up

First Round Results
Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) beat Ryan Kelleher (Killarney) 3/2
Jack Heffernan (Doneraile) W/O Edward Walsh (Mallow)
Ronan Hayes (East Clare) beat Finn Looney (East Clare) 3/2
Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick) beat Killian Cotter (Doneraile) 3/2
James Lawlor (Nass) beat Ronan O’ Connell (Fota) 5/4
Eoin Magill (East Clare) beat Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden) 2/1
Conor Slevin (Charleville) beat Niall McCarthy (Killarney) 1up
Cathal O’ Carroll Charleville beat Daniel McNally (Carton House) 2/1

Murphy, Desmond,Healy, O’Connell and Rumley all make Kerry Boys Matchplay Cut

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Mark Healy Kinsale

Kinsale’s Mark Healy

Five Cork golfers have made the cut for the matchplay stage of the Kerry Boys Championship at Ballybunion.  Reigning champion John Murphy is through and will face Faithleggg’s Dara Phelan in tomorrow’s first round.  Murphy is joined by Kinsale team-mates Eric Rumley and Mark Healy. First round leader Sean Desmond also made the cut as did Bandon’s Brian O’Connell.  There’s a big North Cork factor at play in the Plate matchplay, there are five North cork golfers in action tomorrow morning.

Kerry Boys Championship – Round 1 Draw:

8am Sean Desmond (Monkstown) -v- Jonathon Haydon (Royal Dublin)
8.10am Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) -v- Iarla O’ Mahony (Ballybunion)
8.20am John Murphy (Kinsale) -v- Dara Phelan (Faithlegg)
8.30am Luke Walsh (Killarney) -v- Jason Davis (Carton House)
8.40am Mark Healy (Kinsale) -v- David O’ Reilly (Carton House)
8.50am Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) -v- Brian O’ Connell (Bandon)
9am Conor Meade (East Clare) -v- Darren Mulcahy (Killarney)
9.10am Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) -v- Eric Rumley (Kinsale) Continue reading →