Sean Desmond

Howard earns Ireland call up following South performance

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David Howard had another good week on Golf Ireland’s Bridgestone Tour.  He reached the final 16 of the South of Ireland on Saturday, and in doing he looks to have earned selection on the Irish team for the upcoming Home Internationals.

Howard, who won his first major event in Baltray last month at the East of Ireland, backed up his impressive stroke play performance with six positive rounds in Lahinch.  The 26 year old opened with a lack lustre 75, the three over par round put him outside the top 80 with a second 18 holes to come.  The round could have been worse – after 10 holes Howard was five over but two late birdies gave him something to fight for.

Howard returned on Thursday afternoon and things didn’t improve when he was one over after nine.  The back nine again proved critical as Continue reading →

Ten Cork golfers advance at the South

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Joe O’Neill (Berehaven) in action at the 2023 South of Ireland, sponsored by Pierse Motor Group. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Cork golfers had some impressive performances at the South of Ireland last week with ten golfers making the cut.  Dean O’Riordan, Joe O’Neill and Robert Walsh all made it through on the cut mark of +6 while Mel Deasy was one better on +5.

Peter O’Keeffe was just one off the leading qualifier on -5 and Morgan Cain was the only other Cork player under par on -2.  Former South Champion Sean Desmond went safely through on +1 with James Walsh continuing his good run of form to finish in the top 20.  Munster Strokeplay winner Jason Law also made Continue reading →

Desmond takes home win at Senior Cup Alliance

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Sean Desmond made the most of home advantage in Monkstown on Saturday, he shot one under in testing conditions to win the second senior cup alliance event.  Desmond produced a great display of golf to finish one under and one shot ahead of the field of over 30 golfers.

Desmond eagled the par four fourth hole and followed that with a birdie on the fifth which was playing really hard in the cold wet conditions.  He did give tow shots back to the course on 6th and 8th, but he played very steady golf on the way back to finish as the only player under par.

Muskerry’s Stephen Riordan finished in second place on level par, he’s just back from the Faldo Series Grand Final in Dubai and the warm weather practice is still paying dividends for him.  Jack Murphy from Douglas took third place with a two over par 60 and Conor McDowell and Robbie Walsh were next best on 61.

This was the second event in the series, James Walsh was the winner on Muskerry last month.  The competition for members of Cork, Douglas, Monkstown and Muskerry was created to keep a competitive aspect for inter-club players through the winter months.  The next event is scheduled for Cork Golf Club on Saturday 3rd December.

 

Cork Senior Cup Alliance (Monkstown)

1 Sean Desmond (Monkstown) 57

2 Stephen Riordan (Muskerry) 58

3 Jack Murphy (Douglas) 60

4 Conor McDowell (Monkstown) 61

5 Robbie Walsh (Douglas) 61

Mallow Scratch Cup win for Max Kennedy

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Max Kennedy (Royal Dublin) in action in Mallow. Pic: Niall O’Shea

Mallow hosted another great scratch cup last weekend, with Dubliner Max Kennedy winning after 54 holes.  The Louisville student finished three clear of the field to win comfortably.  The event attracted a full timesheet, featuring Irish internationals and provincial golfers all hoping to win the Dan Butler Cup.  Although Kennedy was three off the lead following the opening round on Saturday morning, an afternoon 68 meant there was a six shot swing and he held a three shot lead Continue reading →

Desmond & O’Mahony claim first Munster Caps, Senior Interprovincial team named

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Sean Desmond

Sean Desmond (Monkstown) teeing off the 9th in Lahinch during the third round of the South of Ireland Championship. Pic: Niall O’Shea

Sean Desmond and Greg O’Mahony are set to earn their first Munster senior caps having been named in the Munster Interprovincial team today.  The Cork duo are among three new faces in the Munster team that also see’s Pat Murray return after missing out last year.  Captain Michael Coote and Manager George Mellerick have assembled a strong team as Munster hope to retain the title.  Desmond was a strong contender for a spot after winning the South Of Ireland earlier this month, and although be missed out on an automatic spot he was certainly to the forefront of the selectors minds.  Greg O’Mahony also picks up his first cap on the back of solid championship performances.  He reached the last 32 in the South and the last 16 in the Irish Close in Ballybunion earlier this week.  Pat Murray makes a welcome return to the team, the Tipperary native has a long and distinguished record and his matchplay experience will balance the young look to the team.

Peter O’Keeffe and Eanna Griffin were automatic picks having finished in the top three in Continue reading →

Butler & O’Mahony through to last 16 in AIG Irish Close

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South of Ireland 2019

Cathal Butler

Just two Cork golfers remain from the six that started in Ballybunion this morning.  Cathal Butler and Greg O’Mahony are through to the last 16 in the AIG Irish Close in Ballybunion.  Butler is on a good run of form at the moment, and he was delighted to come through the first two rounds considering the challenge that the Old Course put up.  “It was blowing an absolute gale, so there was serious ball control needed” said the Kinsale man. “Obviously I had some bad holes and plenty of bogies thrown in but managed to get over the line.  I just didn’t get down at all no matter what was thrown at me.”  Cathal had beat Jordan Hood on the 18th this morning, and he won 3&1 over Conor Ryan this afternoon.  Butler had plenty of home support in Ballybunion with all the lads staying on to support him.  “Shane O’Connell from Kinsale caddied for me at the end of my first match and in the afternoon and he was a huge help. John Murphy, Gary Ward, Robbie Walsh and Eric Rumley came out to support me and it was a huge help to get me over the line especially when conditions were so tough.  I love Ballybunion, it requires such precision with approach shots – it’s not easy though”

Butler will now face Portmarnock’s Continue reading →

Six through in Ballybunion, AIG Irish Close Championship

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Gameface; Peter O'Keeffe in action in the South of Ireland in Lahinch last year

Peter O’Keeffe

Six Cork golfers made it through the first test in Ballybunion this weekend, they’ve qualified for the matchplay stage of the AIG Irish Close Championship.  In testing weather conditions the Old Course played much tougher than Saturday.  Peter O’Keeffe ended up as the top Corkman, his level par round today saw him finish in 11th, 21 places higher than yesterday.  Greg O’Mahony, Cathal Butler and John Murphy have all matched their Lahinch achievements in making the matchplay – although in Murphy’s case he had to qualify this time, doing so comfortably with three shots to spare.  Mel Deasy made it through to his first championship matchplay he was the best of the +8’s and is through to tomorrow’s draw.  South Champion Sean Desmond added a second 75 today to also finish on +8, he is through to the matchplay, hoping his form from Lahinch will continue.  For a while it looked like Deasy, and especially Desmond would miss out, but as the afternoon score came in, all the +8’s were safely through and there was even a few +9’s to qualify.  Overnight leader Ronan Mullarney added a three under par 68 to yesterday’s 65 to finish as top qualifier on -9.  Eoin Leonard shot a best of the day 67 to Continue reading →

Butler in second place at Irish Close in Ballybunion

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Cathal Butler

Cathal Butler

The AIG Irish Close Championship got underway this morning in Ballybunion, with Kinsale’s Cathal Butler posting the low score to hold the clubhouse lead for most of the day.  Despite delays due to a funeral and a nosebleed, over 130 golfers were out on the Old Course today.  They were completing the first of two rounds to determine the top 64 qualifiers to go through to the matchplay stages starting on Monday.

After a good performance in Lahinch, Butler made to most of his early start.  He had three birdies in a row from the 4th to the 6th, and added another on the 8th to turn on three under.  Butler got to -4 on the 16th, but a bogey on the last saw him sign for 68, goo enough to hold the clubhouse lead for much of the day.  The former Kerry Boys winner played very will in Lahinch last week, and he’ll be hoping that the good golf will continue as he aims to reach the final stages in Ballybunion.  Butler is three behind Ronan Mullarney who opened with a blistering 6 under.  Clubmate Gary Ward also finished in the red, he shot a one under par 70, thanks in part to a tasty eagle three Continue reading →