Long Read: Monkstown and Muskerry on All-Ireland Trail

 

AIG Senior Cup Munster Finals, Cork Golf Club, Saturday13th August 2016Monkstown and Muskerry travel to Carton House this week to play in Europe’s biggest golf competition and both have hopes of returning with an All-Ireland title.  Both clubs face All-Ireland semi-finals on Friday morning.  Muskerry are in action in the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield while Monkstown aim to win their first AIG Senior Cup title.  Both clubs have been busy preparing, on and off the course.  The cost of sending a team to compete in Carton House quickly runs into five figures when you take into account all of the costs associated.  Despite the costs, it’s a great opportunity for both clubs and one which all of their members are looking forward to.  Monkstown Captain Carl Toal has been involved in several teams himself and he has been busy over the past three weeks.  “The Club is on a high since winning the AIG Senior Cup Munster final in Cork Golf Club last month, it was a fantastic achievement to win after coming so close last year in Dungarvan” said the Captain who went on to explain the plan that was put into operation, “Winning the Munster final inevitably Continue reading

Murphy Top 5 at Euro Team Championships, Cork Lose out in Barton semi-final

irish-boys-ega-sept-2016John Murphy (Kinsale) shot a level par 72 on the opening day of the European Boy’s Team Championships today.  The competition is taking place in Czech Republic and Murphy was one of the later starters this morning and opened with birdie.  He had three bogies on the front nine  but turned on +1, two birdies and a bogey on the back nine meant that he signed for a level par 72 to lie in 5th place.  It was a very good day for Ireland, Kevin leBlanc holds the lead on -4 and all six Irish golfers are in the top 20.  Tomorrow will be an important day for the Irish, the second round of strokeplay qualifying will determine the matchplay draws with the top four countries playing-off for the Championship title.

 

Cork Golf Club put up a strong battle today against Warrenpoint, losing out on the 18th green in Continue reading

Monkstown win Munster Mixed Foursomes at Muskerry,

Munster Mixed Foursomes 2016 Muskerry

Susan White, Premium Credit, presenting the Munster Inter Club Mixed Foursomes trophy to Nick Moore and Emer Moran, Monkstown Golf Club, following their win at Muskerry Golf Club. Included is Tom Purcell, Muskerry G.C. Captain. Picture: Mike English.

The Munster Inter Club Mixed Foursomes final was held in Muskerry on Sunday 28th August .

There was a new Sponsor this year and Susan White of “Premium Credit “ welcomed the 26 participating Clubs and was delighted to be hosting such an event.  The eventual winners were Nick Moore and Emer Moran representing Monkstown with a score of 69.5.  The Runners  Up were  Lee Valley  represented  by Alan Cashman and Margaret Ahern with Adare Manor’s  Barry O’Riordan and  Siobhan Curran  and Ballybunion’s  Sean Kennelly  Janice O’Connell in 3rd and 4th Place .

The photo ( by Michael English )  shows Susan White of Premium Credit presenting the trophy to Nick Moore and Emer Moran ably assisted by Tom Purcell Captain of Muskerry

Inaugural Muskerry Bruen Week a Huge Success

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: Mike English

Muskerry held a very successful open week last week, it was the first staging of the Jimmy Bruen Open week and marked the culmination of a number of initiatives to remember the greatest amateur golfer from Cork.

Maurice Leahy was one of the driving forces behind the Jimmy Bruen Open Week and he was delighted with the week’s activities.  “I am pleased to say the week was a roaring success” said Leahy, “We had packed time sheets, decent weather and huge input from the Bruen Family.  The week culminated in a barbecue on Saturday night, and specially commissioned medals were presented to the week’s winners by members of the Bruen Family.   The night began with a Jimmy Bruen life and times slideshow produced by Tim O’Brien.  This was attended by Mrs Nell Bruen, a sprightly 98 yrs young, and Bruen family.   Nell thanked everyone and Captain Tom Purcell presented Nell with one of the medals as a momento.  Then Barbara Bruen presented the club with a Gross score trophy won by her father Jimmy at the 1938 Irish Amateur Continue reading

Closing 68 gives Desmond a second Bruen Youths Title

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

Entries open for Munster Open Mixed Foursomes

Muskerry Open Mixed Foursomes 2015

Maurice Power and Ann Creamer (Tipperary GC) – winners in 2015

Entries are now open for the Munster Open Mixed Foursomes which will be held at Muskery Golf Club on Sunday 28th August.  The event traditionally attracts a large attendance with almost all of the Munster clubs entering.  This competition is open to all Clubs in Munster.  One pair will represent each Club, and qualifying rounds to select two players will be in progress in many clubs

Muskerry Golf Club is delighted to announce that Premium Credit have agreed to become the new title sponsor for The Munster Open Mixed Foursomes Interclub Cup Final.  “Fairway Credit” was established in 1994 as a division of Premium credit and is the leading service provider in the golfing industry offering members the convenience of paying their Annual subscriptions in affordable monthly installments.

Entry forms are available by emailing Hugo Gallagher on muskgc@eircom.net , and should be returned by Wednesday August 24th.  A time sheet will be posted on line & emailed to competing clubs by Friday 26th August.

Douglas set for AIG Cups & Shields Munster Finals

Muskerry and Lisselan carry local hopes

Douglas Golf Club

AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield (1st Tee)
8.00am: Ballykisteen –v- Spanish Point
8.40am: Muskerry –v- Killarney
Final: 45 mins after last match

AIG Pierce Purcell Shield (10th Tee)
8.00am: Nenagh –v- Lisselan
8.40am: Thurles –v- Ring of Kerry
Final: 45 mins after last match

Bruen Youths to launch Muskerry’s Bruen Open Week

Bruen Youths 2015 Sean Desmond

Sean Desmond (Monkstown) receiving the Bruen Youths Trophy from David Bruen, also included are David Taylor Captain Muskerry and Richard Cahill Sponsor.

The Bruen Youths will this year mark the start of Muskerry’s Bruen Open week which celebrates the 80th anniversary of Jimmy Bruen’s magnificent victory in the British Boys Championship.  It also marks the 70th anniversary of Bruen’s win at the British Amateur in 1946.  This year’s competition is a 36 hole strokeplay event and takes place on Monday 15th August.

The Bruen Youths started in 1986 as a boys (under 18) competition but later moved to youths level.  There have been many famous winners, Professionals David Higgins, Cian McNamara, Mick Collins, Mark Murphy and Aaron O’Callaghan have all won, and Ronan Twomey and Dave O’Donovan are among very few Muskerry that have won for the home club.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler did a rare double in 2013 and 2014, and Monkstown’s Sean Desmond won Continue reading