Sean Desmond

Murphy retains Kerry Boy’s Championship at Ballybunion

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John Murphy Kerry Boys 2016 TrophyIt’s been 30 years since anyone has managed to win back to back titles, and today John Murphy waited until the 19th hole to grasp back the trophy that he proudly won last year.

The Munster Boys Champion beat Monkstown’s Sean Desmond 4&3 in the morning semi-final.  The Monkstown man reached the same stage last year – and just like last year he will have to re-focus for tomorrow’s AIG Senior Cup when Monktown face Ballybunion.

In the final he faced Ballybunion’s Ronan Cross and a close match followed.  The pair were all-square through six holes but by the turn Murphy had a one hole advantage.  By the 12th Cross had turned the match and went one up, and he went two up on the 13th hole.  Murphy pulled one back on th 14th and he levelled the match on the 16th, setting it up for a thrilling finish.  Cross and Murphy halved the 17th and 18th, with some very impressive golf being played in tough conditions.  The match headed for the 19th Continue reading →

Showdown for Murphy & Desmond in Kerry Boys Championship

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John Murphy April 2016Holder John Murphy will face last year’s semi-finalist Sean Desmond in an all Cork semi-final at the Kerry Boys in Ballybunion.  The Kinsale and Monkstown golfers extended their stay in Ballybunion as they both won two rounds of matchplay golf today on the Cashen course.  Brian O’Connell and Eric Rumley lost out in this morning’s first round while Mark Healy got through the the quarter final.  Healy lost out this afternoon after a close match with Nenagh’s Scott O’Brien.  O’Brien will face home place Ronan Cross in the other semi-final.  There was little joy for Cork golfer in the plate, Charleville’s Cathal O’Carroll is the only remaining Cork representative.

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Kerry Boys Championship Semi-Final
8am Sean Desmond (Monkstown) v John Murphy (Kinsale)
8.10am Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) v Ronan Cross (Ballybunion)

Kerry Boys Plate Matchplay Semi-Final
8.20am Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) v Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick)
8.30am James Lawlor (Nass) v Cathal O’ Carroll (Charleville)

Kerry Boys Championship Quarter Final Results
Sean Desmond (Monkstown) beat Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) 2up
John Murphy (Kinsale) beat Luke Walsh (Killarney) 5/4
Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) beat Mark Healy (Kinsale) 1up
Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) beat Conor Meade (East Clare) 2/1

First Round Results
Sean Desmond (Monkstown) beat Jonathon Haydon (Royal Dublin) 5/3
Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) beat Iarla O’ Mahony (Ballybunion) 19th Hole
John Murphy (Kinsale) beat Dara Phelan (Faithlegg) 6/4
Luke Walsh (Killarney) beat Jason Davis (Carton House) 2/1
Mark Healy (Kinsale) beat David O’ Reilly (Carton House) 8/7
Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) beat Brian O’ Connell (Bandon) 1up
Conor Meade (East Clare) beat Darren Mulcahy (Killarney) 1up
Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) beat Eric Rumley (Kinsale) 19th

Plate Matchplay Quarter Final Results
Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) beat Jack Heffernan (Doneraile) 6/4
Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick) beat Ronan Hayes (East Clare) 2/1
James Lawlor (Nass) beat Eoin Magill (East Clare) 2up
Cathal O’ Carroll Charleville beat Conor Slevin (Charleville) 1up

First Round Results
Kevin O’ Donnell (Milltown) beat Ryan Kelleher (Killarney) 3/2
Jack Heffernan (Doneraile) W/O Edward Walsh (Mallow)
Ronan Hayes (East Clare) beat Finn Looney (East Clare) 3/2
Eoghan C O’ Neill (Limerick) beat Killian Cotter (Doneraile) 3/2
James Lawlor (Nass) beat Ronan O’ Connell (Fota) 5/4
Eoin Magill (East Clare) beat Kevin Robinson (Castlewarden) 2/1
Conor Slevin (Charleville) beat Niall McCarthy (Killarney) 1up
Cathal O’ Carroll Charleville beat Daniel McNally (Carton House) 2/1

Murphy, Desmond,Healy, O’Connell and Rumley all make Kerry Boys Matchplay Cut

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Mark Healy Kinsale

Kinsale’s Mark Healy

Five Cork golfers have made the cut for the matchplay stage of the Kerry Boys Championship at Ballybunion.  Reigning champion John Murphy is through and will face Faithleggg’s Dara Phelan in tomorrow’s first round.  Murphy is joined by Kinsale team-mates Eric Rumley and Mark Healy. First round leader Sean Desmond also made the cut as did Bandon’s Brian O’Connell.  There’s a big North Cork factor at play in the Plate matchplay, there are five North cork golfers in action tomorrow morning.

Kerry Boys Championship – Round 1 Draw:

8am Sean Desmond (Monkstown) -v- Jonathon Haydon (Royal Dublin)
8.10am Philip Byrne Jnr (Ballybunion) -v- Iarla O’ Mahony (Ballybunion)
8.20am John Murphy (Kinsale) -v- Dara Phelan (Faithlegg)
8.30am Luke Walsh (Killarney) -v- Jason Davis (Carton House)
8.40am Mark Healy (Kinsale) -v- David O’ Reilly (Carton House)
8.50am Scott O’ Brien (Nenagh) -v- Brian O’ Connell (Bandon)
9am Conor Meade (East Clare) -v- Darren Mulcahy (Killarney)
9.10am Ronan Cross (Ballybunion) -v- Eric Rumley (Kinsale) Continue reading →

Desmond leads Kerry Boys R1 Qualifier

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Results from Round 1 of the Kerry Boys Championship at Ballybunion Golf Club:

Kerry Boys Championship Qualifier Day 1

Tuesday 9th August 2016, White Tees, Cashen Course

Results Gross CSS 73 (Visitors 73)
1st Ronan Cross(5) Ballybunion GC 73
2nd Sean Desmond(-1) Monkstown Golf Club 73
3rd Conor Meade(3) East Clare Golf Club 75
4th Luke Walsh(5) Killarney Golf Club 76
5th MARK HEALY(1) Kinsale 77
6th Darren Mulcahy(7) Killarney Golf Club 77
7th Eoghan C O’Neill(5) Limerick 77
8th Killian Cotter(4) Doneraile Golf Club 77
9th Philip Byrne Jnr (8) Ballybunion GC 79
10th Jason Davis(5) Carton House Golf Club 79
11th JOHN MURPHY(-1) Kinsale 79
12th Dara Phelan(4) Faithlegg Golf Club 79
13th Eoin Magill(9) East Clare Golf Club 80
14th Finn Looney(6) East Clare Golf Club 80
15th Brian O’Connell(3) Bandon Golf Club 81
16th Eric Rumley(3) Kinsale 81
17th Ciaran Nolan Tighe(9) Tralee Golf Club 82
18th Edward Walsh(2) Mallow Golf Club 82
19th Ryan Kelliher(9) Killarney Golf Club 82 Continue reading →

Egan and Walsh help Munster to Under 16 Interpro Title

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2016 Boys Interprovincial Championship at Tullamore Golf Club

Kevin Murray (Team Captain) and John Fennessy (Team Manager) with the victorious Munster Under16 boys team (from left) Ian Halpin, Fred Twomey (Provincial Coach), Jack Egan, Charlie Dawson, Jonathan Keane, Sean Enright and Edward Walsh at the 2016 Boys Interprovincial Championship matches at Tullamore Golf Club today (22/07/2016). Picture by Pat Cashman

Jack Egan and Edward Walsh helped Munster to their first Under 16 Interprovincial title.  Munster were in second place after the opening two matches yesterday, and under the watchful eyes of Kevin Murray, John Fennessy and Fred Twomey, the team played very well in their final game against Connacht and overcame a half point deficit.

Muskerry’s Jack Egan was the hero of the hour, he was one down playing 18, and a loss would have meant that Connacht would win on a countback.  Egan duly obliged, he won the hole to half his match and that ensured that Munster won the match and ultimately the title.

Boys Interprovincials Gallery by Cashman Photography

Egan finished the three matches with a win and two halves, in his one foursomes and two singles matches.  Mallow’s Ed Walsh lost his opening foursomes match but captured two valuable points for Munster in the singles matches against Leinster and Connacht.

The Under 18 team did as much as they could in the final day, they had a good 6-4 win over Connacht.   But unfortunately for Michael Coote’s team, Ulster retained their lead by beating Leinster in their final match.  There were some Continue reading →

Barrett joins Desmond, Healy & Murphy on Munster Boys Interprovincials team

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Fred Daly Trophy Munster Finals

Greg Barrett at the Fred Daly Trophy Munster semi-finals at Gold Coast Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Mallow’s Greg Barrett was named on a strong Munster Boys team this afternoon.  Team Captain Michael Coote named the team after the Munster Boys Amateur Open had finished and three of the top eight made the Munster team.  Barrett has been having a good run of form and his scores of 74,76,78 gave him a top 30 finish this week and kept him in sight of the selectors.  Barrett finished in 5th place at the Leinster Boys recently and hopes will be high that his current form will continue next week in Tullamore as the Munster Boys team will aim to win the inter-provincial title next week.  He was also a member of the Munster Under 16 team last year.

Munster Boys winner John Murphy was an obvious choice for the team, and his Kinsale club-mate Mark Healy also made the team, both retaining their places from last year.  Monkstown Sean Desmond also retained his place, Desmond shot a 66 yesterday and finished in the top ten.  He has also been a key player on the Monkstown team that has reached the Munster Finals of the AIG Senior Cup.  The four Cork golfers are clearly on form as are Andrew Mulhall and Ciaran Vaughan.  Hopes will be high Continue reading →

Murphy’s dramatic finish to win Munster Boys

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Junior Amateur Dromoland Co Clare

Con Woods, Captain, John Murphy, Kinsale and John Moloughney, GUI Munster Golf at Dromoland Castle Golf Club Co Clare.Pic Arthur Ellis. http://www.golffile.ie

Kinsale’s John Murphy won the Munster Boy’s title in dramatic fashion with two birdies on the final holes to win by one shot.  Murphy had a three shot lead going into the final round but a triple bogey on the 8th cut his lead.  Fortwilliam’s Hugh O’Hare jumped into the lead after Murphy bogeyed the 15th and 16th.  Murphy produced a strong finish however, birdieing the 17th and 18th at Dromoland Castle to capture the title.  Murphy finished the championship on -5 after signing for a final round 74.  Hugh O’Hare was a shot behind on -4 and Andrew Mulhall (Waterford Castle) was third on -3.  Ross Kelly from Tuam Golf Club shot the low round of the day, his 70 saw him finish in the top ten.

Monkstown’s Sean Desmond finished in 8th place, a final round 78 saw him finish on +6.  Mark Healy was 24th and Adam Boland had a disappointing final round to finish in 33rd spot.  Jack Egan had a final round 78, this will have been agreat learning experience for the young Muskerry player

Munster Branch Chairman John Moloughney thanked all of the Continue reading →

4 Cork Golfers through to final round of Irish Boys

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Fred Daly Trophy Munster Finals

Eric Rumley 

The third round of the Irish Boys took place today at Castle Golf Club and four Cork golfers are through to the final round.  John Murphy (Kinsale) and Eamonn O’Driscoll (Clement Ader) were both safely through to the final round but there was an anxious wait for Sean Desmond and Eric Rumley.  Desmond, fresh from Monkstown’s Senior Cup wins last weekend, had a birdie on the 18th to sign for a 73.  He was pretty confident of making it into the final round but it looked like Eric would miss out by one.  Dropped shots in the closing holes Jack Hearn and Brian O’Connell brought all of the +14’s inside the cut.  Eamonn O’Driscoll is just outside the top 20 on +9 and John Murphy is also on +9.  Both however are well off the joint leaders on -6.  Mark Power and Thomas Mulligan are both six Continue reading →

Irish Call-Up for Desmond and Murphy

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Sean Desmond

Sean Desmond

Both Sean Desmond and John Murphy have been called up to the Irish Boys teams that will play in France and Wales later this month.  Desmond has been selected on the team that will travel to Cardigan GC for the annual challenge match against Wales.  Desmond from Monkstown will see action in both singles series and has a good chance of featuring in the foursomes matches also.  There will be three foursomes matches on the opening day against Wales followed by eight singles matches in the afternoon. There will be eight more singles matches on the second day against Wales at Cardigan.  Desmond had a very strong 2015, he had some notable singles performances and played a key role for his club Monkstown in two Munster finals in the AIG Senior Cup and the Junior Foursomes.  He was named Continue reading →

4 Cork Golfers Included in National Panels

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Kinsale's Cathal Butler

Kinsale’s Cathal Butler

The GUI national panels were announced today and four Cork golfers have made the training panels.  Kinsale’s Cathal Butler made his return to competitive golf this week in Rosslare and he has been added to the Men’s Development Panel.  Butler’s Kinsale stablemate John Murphy has gone straight into the Boy’s Panel while Sean Desmond (Monkstown) made it into the Boy’s Development Panel.  Mallow’s Ed Walsh is the 4th Cork golfer to get the call up, he is on the Boy’s Under 16 Panel. Continue reading →