Charleville’s Pierce Purcell team celebrating after winning the All Ireland final of the AIG Pierce Purcell Shield in Westport. Pic: Pat Cashman, Cashman Photography
Charleville won the All Ireland final of the AIG Pierce Purcell Shield in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with a sudden death win over Castlebar. Paddy O’Kelly and Ciaran Herlihy were the hero’s for the north Cork club after they won their match on the 19th hole in Westport late on Saturday afternoon.
Danny Deady and Trevor Barry put the first point on the board for Charleville but Castlebar won the next two points to give them 2-1 lead. With two matches left on the course, Charleville were one up and all square. John O’Keeffe and Ger Mullane won on the 18th to level the match, and when O’Kelly and Herlihy halved their match on the 18th, it was on to sudden death. On the 19th a par would do for the Charleville pair, when Castlebar couldn’t match it the large crowd of Charleville supporters celebrated on the first green. It’s the ninth win in a row for Munster clubs in this competition, but the first for a Cork club in man years. It’s a second Purcell title for Charleville, and coincidentally it’s their second win in Connacht. Back in 2006 they won when Enniscrone hosted the finals. Needless to say one of the proudest men in Westport was the Charleville team captain Anthony Fitzgerald. “It’s not good for the heart, I swear to God,” said Fitzgerald. “For my own team and supporters, I’m thrilled. We’re just Continue reading
Ireland had a super win against hosts Denmark in semi-final of the European Seniors today. In a match that went all the way to the wire Ireland ended up on the right side of the result after one additional hole. Alan Condren won with a few to spare and Steven Graham won on the 18th. Karl Bornemann & Jim Carvill lost their foursomes match on the 17th, and Peter Sheehan also lost his singles match. With four matches in the score was 2-2, meaning O’Brien’s match would decide the outcome. The Castlemartyr member was one down after 15, and despite winning the 16th the momentum shifted when he lost 17 to a birdie. With the pressure of the match on him, O’Brien birdied the last to extend the match. On the 19th, he calmly slotted a ten foot putt to send Ireland through to tomorrow’s final. It’s been a great week for O’Brien on his international debut, and his form has been matched by his teammates who also have been very solid all week. Ireland now face England tomorrow in the final.
Karl Bornemann and John O’Brien both finished in the top twenty in Denmark today, helping Ireland to finish in pole position at the European Seniors Team Championship. The 36 hole strokeplay qualifier took place at Rungsted GC, with the Cork duo playing well to help Ireland to qualify safely in the top flight.
He’s more commonly seen on the first tee, or possibly on hand when a ruling is needed. Most weekends he’s watching golf rather than playing it, but last weekend Dave Prendergast swapped his Munster colours for club colours and won the Cork Golf Club Intermediate Scratch Cup. Prendergast, who is the Honorary Match & Handicapping Secretary for Munster Golf, shot an impressive 67 to win the competition. His gross nine over (81) included a birdie on the third and a great run of six pars on the back nine. It was the back nine that won it for Dave, Cork’s Donal Mulvihill also finished on 67 while Mahon’s Eoghan O’Mahony took third place. Aidan Carroll won the best gross prize with 83.
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