Phil Cooney

New Munster Regional Executive Elected

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Jim Long who was elected Chairman of the Golf Ireland Munster Regional Executive

The evolving face of club golf in Ireland took another step forward last week with the completion of the Munster Regional Executive Committee elections.  Monkstown’s Jim Long is the inaugural Chairman of the provincial arm of Golf Ireland, the new single governing body for golf in Ireland.  The former Chairman of Munster Golf will lead a 16 strong committee of regional representatives after a three-stage election process that saw the first regional executive selected.

This marked the completion of another stage of the transition to Golf Ireland, ending the century long administration of the game by the Golfing Union of Ireland for men, and the Irish Ladies Golf Union for ladies.  Over the last three years, golf’s Continue reading →

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Munster set for Interpro’s, Day 1 at Carlow Golf Club

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Phil Cooney, Captain of the Munster Senior Interprovincial Team

Phil Cooney

Munster Captain Phil Cooney has named his pairings for this mornings foursomes match which tee’s off in Carlow at 8am.  Peter O’Keeffe and Andrew McCormack lead out the Munster side which will face Leinster.  The seven golfers to contest the singles will be announced later this morning with the singles scheduled to get underway at 1pm.

Cooney is looking for his third interprovincial title and has a strong team in place to challenge.

Munster v Leinster (Foursomes)

Peter O’Keeffe & Andrew McCormack
v
Jonathan Yates & Mark Power

John Murphy & James Sugrue
v
Caolan Rafferty & Eugene Smith

Geoff Lenehan & Jack Pierse
v
Conor Purcell & Jake Whelan

Gary O’Flaherty & Eanna Griffin
v
Daniel Holland & Alan Lowry

Munster Debuts for Murphy & Sugrue

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John Murphy of Ireland during the final round

John Murphy, Pic: Tristan Jones

John Murphy and James Sugrue are set to make the Munster senior debuts next month in Carlow, they are two of three new caps to be named on the Munster Senior Interprovincial team.  Both Murphy and Sugrue have represented Munster at Boys level and are set to join the senior ranks in a new look team.  Captain Phil Cooney has named Murphy, Sugrue and Dublin based Jack Pierse in a team that see’s four changes from last year.  Waterford’s Eanna Griffin has also been named in the side that see’s four changes from last year.

It’s the biggest shake up in several years, although all eight golfers were the form players over the past few months, they took the top eight spots on the qualifying order of merit.  Cooney along with selectors John Carroll and Michael Coote had four picks to make after Peter O’Keeffe, Robin Dawson, John Murphy and Continue reading →

Fota the perfect venue for tournament golf

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Gary O'Flaherty Geoff Lenehan

Gary O’Flaherty & Geoff Lenehan pictured during practice today at Fota Island

Fota Island has proven itself to be the perfect tournament venue and next week it will host the GUI Senior Interprovincials.  The famous Deerpark course has a long-standing association with top level tournament golf, hosting European Tour, Seniors Tour, ILGU PGA and GUI events.  It’s a three time host for the Irish Open, in 2001 and 2002 it hosted the Murphy’s Irish Open and attracted record crowds as the Cork headquartered Brewery wrapped up their nine-year sponsorship of the competition.  More recently Fota attracted 100,000 spectators during the 2014 Irish Open.  As a championship venue, the Deerpark course in Fota has been lengthened but very little else has happened to the Jeff Howes designed course.  Tightly cut fairways, strategic bunkering, and receptive true greens are all hallmarks of the Fota golf experience.  While the vast majority of competitions held in Fota have been strokeplay, it’s also a wonderful course for matchplay.  The signature par five 18th makes Continue reading →

Butler, McCormack & O’Keeffe earn Munster places

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Fota Island Top Golfer Senior Scratch Cup 2016

Cathal Butler  pictured with the Fota Island Senior Scratch Cup. 

There are three new picks on the 2016 Munster team, as Captain Phil Cooney plots to win this third interprovincial title in five years as captain.

Newly capped Cathal Butler jointly topped the order of merit, and the Kinsale man is one of three members of the team joining the team.  His order of merit placing was predominantly down to his performance in winning the Munster Strokeplay in May, but also his performances in the East of Ireland and the Irish Amateur Open added valuable points.  Butler has spent the winter working with the Harrington Scholars golf programme in Maynooth University where he is also a full time student.

As well as access to top level training and fitness programmes, Cathal also played in the competitive Hilary Golf Society outings in Dublin through the winter.  He’s also a member of the Irish Mens development squad and Butler is just back after competing for Ireland in the World University Championships in Brive.  Butler also beat a top class field in Fota Island in March to win the Senior Scratch Cup which bodes well as the inter-pro’s are being held on the same Deerpark course.

Andrew McCormack from Castletroy was also an Continue reading →

Strong Munster Team named for Fota Island Interpro’s

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Phil Cooney, Captain of the Munster Senior Interprovincial Team

Phil Cooney

Munster Captain Phil Cooney has named the Munster team to play in the Senior Interprovincials next week at Fota Island Golf Club.  Cooney, along with selectors John Carroll and Michael Coote waited until after the AIG Senior Cup qualifiers last weekend to finalise their team, who will take on the three provinces from 4th – 6th July.  Munster finished in second place last year in Rosapenna and five members of that team were again selected.  Gary O’Flaherty and Robin Dawson took two of the four automatic spots available through the Order of Merit, with John Hickey, Gary O’Flaherty and Geoff Linehan taking three of the four selectors places.  Newcomers on the team include Kinsale’s Cathal Butler and Castletroy’s Andrew McCormack.  Both McCormack and Butler has great starts to the season and both won counting events on the order of merit.  Peter O’Keeffe makes a return to the team after Continue reading →

O’Donovan and Griffin selected on Munster Team

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A smiling David O'Donovan pictured with the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup after winning the Mardyke Arena sponsored tournament. Picture: Niall O'Shea

A smiling David O’Donovan pictured with the Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup after winning the Mardyke Arena sponsored tournament.
Picture: Niall O’Shea

Dave O’Donovan (Muskerry) has been selected on the Munster Senior Inter-Provincial team, and his selection was warmly welcomed by many who feel it’s a well deserved reward for his good play in 2015.  O’Donovan had a very strong start to the season and won the prestigious Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup in April.  Although he was limited to only a few order of merit events, Munster Captain Phil Cooney obviously liked what he saw when he watched O’Donovan in Lee Valley and later in Cork GC at the Munster Strokeplay.  A happy Dave said: “I’m thrilled to bits obviously.  Dues to a few family occasions I couldn’t play as much as I would have liked to in May.  But I played well in Shannon and the Munster Strokeplay and the game it still good”.  O’Donovan along with the team and management will aim to retain their title in Rossapena (Donegal) in early July.   Continue reading →