AIG Cups & Shields

Muskerry can rise to finals challenge

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com / 1 Comment

The mantle of champions can sometimes place a heavy weight on a side but not so for the Muskerry team.  They’ve taken every opportunity on their path to Carton House and while they had some impressive wins they also had a few close calls.  As hosts in the South Munster qualifier, they had impressive wins over Blarney, Cork and Bandon but they very nearly came unstuck in their second round match against Monkstown.  Monkstown had a put to win the match on the 19th hole and Muskerry were lucky to survive.  They went on to win on the 20th hole and from there they went on to have two impressive wins over Cork and Bandon.

Gallery: Barton Shield Munster Final

AIG Barton Shield & AIG Senior Cup Munster FinalsThe same was true in Dungarvan at the Munster finals.  Muskerry had a seven hole win over Youghal in the semi-final but it took a dramatic 18th green finish to beat Shannon.  With a total of three holes left to play Muskerry were one down and the odds were stacked in favour of Shannon.  As it happened Muskerry were to produce another clutch performance as they went on to win all three remaining holes.  Niall Gorey and David O’Donovan dove-tailed well on the 18th.  O’Donovan had a great drive and Gorey made the par five green with an excellent long range iron over the water.  O’Donovan narrowly missed the 9 foot putt but Continue reading →

Douglas Young Guns win AIG Junior Cup Munster Final

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com / 1 Comment

AIG Junior Cup Munster FinalThe Douglas Junior Cup team have booked their place in Carton House for the All Ireland finals, and they did it in exciting style winning their Munster final on the 18th green in Dungarvan Golf Club last Sunday.  Their team featured several of last year’s Fred Daly winning team and shows how much those players have further matured in winning two very competitive provincial matches.  After winning a dramatic semi-final again Mitchelstown, Douglas faced Ballybunion in the final, with the Kerry side looking to book a second team into the All-Ireland finals.  Ballybunion held a slight advantage through the opening nine holes and built on that lead going into the back nine.  A win in the first game was likely for Douglas after Darren Hourihan turned into the back nine 4 up.  Hourihan again led Douglas from the front, wrapping up his win on Continue reading →

Muskerry Retain AIG Barton Shield Munster Title

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com / 1 Comment
Action from the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Saturday 15th August 2015. Picture: Niall O'Shea

Action from the AIG Barton Shield Munster Final at Dungarvan Golf Club. Saturday 15th August 2015.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Muskerry’s Barton Shield team completed phase two of their plan to match last year’s heroics, after winning the competitive South Munster qualifiers, they went on and secured a second successive Munster title last Saturday in Dungarvan.  Now they face a trip back to Carton House next month for the finals of the AIG Cups and Shields, and they have a great chance of retaining the national title.  The experienced side have one change from last year, Shane Whooley has filled the spot held by John Waldron and has slotted into the seamlessly going on his recent performances.  On Saturday morning they faced Youghal in an all Cork clash.  Youghal had come through the East Munster qualifier, and despite Conor Coyne leading the team they couldn’t keep pace with Muskerry and lost by five holes.  Shannon came through on the other side of the draw with an impressive eight hole win over Tralee.  The final was set to be a battle and it was the first of three Munster finals to be decided on Dungarvan’s 18th green.  The match started as a very evenly

Gallery: AIG Barton Shield Munster Final Continue reading →

Challenging Opening Day at South of Ireland.

/ niall@corkgolfnews.com

Cork’s interest in the South of Ireland Championship could be dramatically reduced tomorrow after a tough day of scoring for much of the field.  Mallow’s Paul McCarthy is the low Cork player, he shot a round of two over par for a share of 23rd place.  Cork’s Gary O’Flaherty is the only other Cork player inside the matchplay cut mark of 64, he’s +4 in 53rd place.

The CSS of 76 was a good indication of the difficulties faced by golfers on the famous Lahinch links during the opening day of play.  Several golfers recorded scores in the mid and high 80’s with two scores in the 90’s returned.

The second strokeplay round takes place tomorrow, with the top 64 going on to the matchplay stage.

<<South of Ireland Live Scoring from @ClubbAPP>>