Muskerry have booked their place in the Munster finals of the Fred Daly Trophy. The Cork side will be hoping to repeat the win of 2017 and remove the memory of the final loss of 2018 when they head to Clonmel in just over two weeks time. To reach the finals three years in a row is a sizeable achievement, they faced Douglas in the area final last Sunday which was held in Cork Golf Club. With a large crowd watching Muskerry took the lead and held on to claim the win and book their place in the Munster finals with a positive performance from the team. Fionn Hickey put the first point on the board for Muskerry with a win over Kevin Collins, and Jack Egan added a second point when he beat Ross Higgins. Mark Hill won a point for Douglas when he beat Eoghan O’Shaughnessy but the match was over when Stephen Continue reading
Fionn Hickey
Top Four for Fionn in Leinster, Final Four for Peter in Portstewart
Fionn Hickey
It was another positive day for Cork golfers, 16 year old Fionn Hickey was in the prizes a the Leinster Boys while Peter O’Keeffe dispatched another two challengers and is into the semi-final of the North of Ireland.
Muskerry’s Fionn Hickey continued his positive set of results this summer with a fourth place finish at the Leinster Boys. Played in Waterford Golf Club over the past three days, Hickey close with a one under par 70. Three birdies in his final five holes helped the Muskerry golfer move up one spot on the leaderboard, and he also won the best Under 17 prize. Mel Deasy (Lee Valley) finished inside the top ten, two birdies on the back nine helped improve his position after going through the front nine in +3 today. Keelan McCarthy and Robbie Walsh came home together in 14th position. Both golfers shot identical rounds of 74,73,78 over the three days, while Mallow’s Daniel O’Sullivan was one shot back in 22nd place.
In Portstewart, Peter O’Keeffe claimed his fourth matchplay win in two day, closing out all four matches before he reached the 18th hole. In the round of 32, O’Keeffe faced Jake Rowe from Tandragee, and he beat the Ulsterman 2&1. This afternoon he faced Malone’s Matthew McClean in the quarter-final and closed out the match on the 16th after holding a solid lead throughout.
Peter O’Keeffe
Tomorrow morning the Douglas golfer will face the top qualifier and 2018 West of Ireland winner Rob Brazill from Naas. Both golfers are currently on the Irish Senior Mens panel and it promises to be an interesting match. In the second semi final, Liam Grehan will take on Arron Edwards-Hill. O’Keeffe has been on the road for well over a week. Last week he caddied for his friend Rob Dawson in the Irish Open in Lahinch, and when they finished up on Sunday, O’Keeffe made the long journey to the Northern coastline for Monday’s first round in the strokeplay qualifier.
Robbie Walsh ahead in Connacht Boys, Lyons leads in Irish Seniors Close
Robbie Walsh leads the Connacht Boys after an impressive round where he shot a 68. The Kinsale teenager had five birdies on his way the the four under par round in Oughterard. A bogey on the final hole spoiled an otherwise flawless round, and he ties the overnight lead with Joshua Hill. Keelan McCarthy (Lee Valley) and Shane Connor (East Cork) are the next best Cork players, they shot level par and are tied for 13th place. Muskerry duo Fionn Hickey (+2) and Jack Egan (+3) are both inside the top thirty, along with Mallow’s Ronan Feerick. Round two in Oughterard takes place tomorrow with the top 45 qualifying for the final round.
Pat Lyons leads in Kilkenny – Irish Seniors Close 
Pat Lyons shot an opening one Continue reading
Another title for Hickey, Irish Boys Under 17 Trophy Winner
Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) pictured at the Douglas Senior Scratch Cup recently.
Fionn Hickey won another title today, he scooped the Under 17 Trophy at the Irish Boys in New Forest today. Hickey had a disappointing 78 yesterday, but he bounced back today with a very steady level par round of 72. A birdie 4th hole saw him turn on one under, but two bogies on the back nine saw him move from the red to +1. Another birdie on the 16th, followed by two closing pars saw him return to level, on a four round total of 292 (+4). That was just two shots behind the overall Irish Boys winner, Aaron Marshall from Lisburn. It was another positive weeks for Fionn, the four rounds of 72, 70, 78, 72 will mean another handicap cut for the Muskerry golfer who is currently playing off scratch. That’s the second trophy of 2019 for Continue reading
Gallery: Douglas Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by Kieran Canty Financial Services
Pictures from Douglas: Continue reading
Hickey takes runner up spot in Ulster Boys
Fionn Hickey
Fionn Hickey finished strongly in Donegal today to claim second place in the Ulster Boys Open Championship. After opening rounds of 72 & 73 the Muskerry man was -1 and held 4th place overnight. In tough scoring conditions, Hickey found himself four over after six holes, but two birdies steadied the score. A final bogey on the 16th would see him sign for a 76, but that ended being the third best score of the day with nobody able to break par. Dundalk’s Josh Macklin shot a 74 to win while overnight leader Joshua Hill finished fourth. Robert Walsh(Kinsale) finished tied for 17th while Jack Egan (Muskerry) and Keelan McCarthy (Lee Valley) were further down the field.
Ulster Boys Amateur Open
Donegal Golf Continue reading
Fionn wins in East Cork
On Saturday Fionn Hickey claimed his second scratch cup when he won the East Cork Senior Scratch Cup. The 16 year old came away with the title after beating Kinsale’s Mark Healy on the countback. A birdie on Hickey’s final hole (15th) proved crucial in the end after both golfers shot a 70 (+1). Fermoy’s Dean O’Riordan took third place with a 71. The first nett prize went to Bandon’s Michael O’Neill with a 68, while East Cork’s Kieran O’Brien was second nett with 69. The scratch cup was sponsored by McGuirks and was the first of a few events that will mark the club’s 50th anniversary.
East Cork Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by McGuirks
- Fionn Hickey (Muskerry) 70
- Mark Healy (Kinsale) 70
- Dean O’Riordan (Fermoy) 71
- Michael O’Neill (Bandon) 68 – Best Nett
- Kieran O’Brien (East Cork) 69 Second Nett
Saturday Showdown in Muskerry
Muskerry Captain Diarmuid Linehan pictured with the holder Fionn Hickey and Michael O’Connor from Investec at the launch of the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup.
Excitement is building for the first major golf competition for 2019, the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday. With new sponsors Investec on board, the club put renewed effort into the famous event. They reaped the rewards with a strong field of entries which includes two Irish internationals and several Munster interprovincial players. Peter O’Keeffe and James Sugrue lead the field in terms of handicaps, both golfers are past winners, Sugrue won in 2016 while O’Keeffe’s win came ten years earlier in 2006 will be looking to add to his growing haul of titles. Both golfers have been busy in the off-season. Sugrue was at the Irish training camp in South Africa which incorporated two top level international events, while O’Keeffe made an appearance at an Alps tour event and has been focused on practice in the recent weeks.
Draw: Investec Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup
Munster golfers Gary O’Flaherty, Cathal Butler and Andrew McCormack were among the early entries and there is currently a standby list in place as over 80 golfers have entered the event. The original limit of 66 players has been moved to Continue reading
March date for Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup
Muskerry Golf Club launched their 2019 Senior Scratch Cup last week, and with a new sponsor and increased prize fund the competition is sure to attract a top class field. The 36 strokeplay competition takes place on Saturday 30th March and bookings are now open. The event will be limited to 66 golfers with lunch and refreshments included. Investec are coming on board as main sponsors, build o their strong presence in Cork and their support of amateur and professional golf nationally. “We are delighted to be associated with a leading global brand like Investec and are look forward to building this event into the leading 36 hole scratch cup in the country over the next few years” said Muskerry Captain Diarmuid Linehan. “Investec are the new sponsors, and they allow us to have an increased prize fund of €1,500 this year, but many thanks must go to our previous sponsors such as the Shine family and the Sadler family who have kept this competition alive through the years.”
This is the 46th staging of the competition, it dates back to 1974 when Youghal’s Denis Clifford was the inaugural winner. Needless to say the cup hold the names of the good and the great from Cork golf over that time, with more than a fair share of winners from Cork Golf Club represented on the famous trophy. Denis O’Sullivan, Pat Lyons, Tom Cleary and more recently John Hickey were all multiple winners. Cleary won the first of his six Muskerry titles in 1976, then representing Fermoy. He also won in 77, 79, 93 and 94, and then in 2010 he rolled back the years to claim a sixth title. Denis O’Sullivan was a prolific winner at the time, and Muskerry accounts for four of his haul of titles, stretching from 1981 to 1991. Douglas golfers have also featured regularly, John McHenry won back to back titles in 1983 and 1984 while Karl Bornemann won four titles between 2000 and 2007. Peter O’Keeffe also won in Douglas colours in 2006. The home club are well represented, Harry Shine was the first home winner in 1978, Jim McKenna won in 1982, Niall Turner won in 2003 while Dave O’Donovan claimed two titles in Continue reading
Byrne & Clancy through in Girls Amateur, Kerry Boys Update
Sara Byrne (Douglas) during the Irish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship, Enniscrone Golf Club, Picture: Golffile | Fran Caffrey All photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit (© Golffile | Fran Caffrey)
Sara Byrne and Valerie Clancy have made it through to the matchplay stage of the Girls Amateur Open in Ardglass. Byrne continued her good form on Tuesday with an opening 71 that saw her finish the first round in 6th place. She finished the second round tied for 12th place, a second round 75 in more testing conditions was more than enough to see her through, although she did describe it as “hanging on”. Valerie Clancy also made it through in the top half of the draw, steady rounds of 73 and 76 saw her finish tied for 19th place from the field of 140 golfers. Ireland will be well represented in the matchplay with a total of seven golfers qualifying. The first two rounds take place today.
Fionn Hickey (Muskerry), Jack O’Donoghue (Bandon) and Ross Higgins (Douglas) have all mande it through to the matchplay stage of the Kerry Boys Championship. Hickey finished third in the qualifier after rounds of 73 & 79, and he’ll face Ross Higgins in the first round. Jack O’Donoghue will face Glasson’s Conor Gleeson who was the top qualifier on -3. Cork is well represented in the plate with six Continue reading
