ALL-IRELAND CUPS AND SHIELDSTHE FIRST two pennants of the Bulmers-sponsored All-Ireland Cups and Shields finals at Monkstown Golf Club were secured yesterday when Portmarnock had the measure of Limerick in the Barton Shield final, while Ballina secured their first All-Ireland with Pat Howley's dramatic pitch-in at the first extra hole to win the Junior Cup.
For years Portmarnock have normally been able to call on a number of Irish internationals to fill their senior teams but this year was different and that's what made yesterday's six-hole win over Limerick so special.
It was a closely-fought contest for much of the afternoon but the match turned on its head when the top pairing of James Fox and Aengus McCallister won four holes on the spin - three with birdies - at the start of the back nine to go four-up on Michael O'Kelly and Martin Toucher.
From there the Dublin pair never looked back and eventually ran out winners by five holes.
"Both teams were two-under when they finished their matches today and that's hard beat in foursomes," said Fox, 26, who plans to have a third crack at tour school later this year.
"We had a tight game today but when we kicked on from the 10th that put a bit of distance between us. Consistency is the key in this foursomes format, plus we also knew we had two experienced campaigners behind us."
That experienced pair of former international Niall Goulding and Michael Brett never gave their opponents Pat Murray and Ger Vaughan an inch before winning by one hole.
Goulding won an All-Ireland medal for Portmarnock's 1993 Barton Shield win despite not being available to play in the final.
"This is definitely the last hurrah for this team because Aengus goes back to America to work at the end of the year and James looks like turning pro.
"But we have a good team and I decided to put the work in and practice hard because I don't know how many more chances I'll get to win one of these - plus there was the local factor to consider for me," added the 42-year-old.
Portmarnock's celebrations were restrained after their win but that's because they have it all to do again in today's Senior Cup semi-final against Castletroy.
In the Junior Cup up ahead, Howley raised the roof when he pitched in to secure Ballina's little bit of history.
The Connacht champions were poised at 2-2 with Naas; Bryan Cox won on the 18th despite knocking his drive out of bounds - he still made bogey - while Stephen Lyndon won (3 and 2) for the second day on the spin.
In the bottom matches David Prendergast (3 and 2) and Conor O'Rourke (2 and 1) levelled proceedings for Naas to guarantee the nail-biting finale.
Howley played a six-iron rather than a normal four-iron at the first because he was so "pumped" but missed the green short left. From there his next action prompted wild roars from the Ballina fans.
"I knew I had to get the pitch close but you only dream of chipping it in. The whole thing was surreal," beamed Howley afterwards.
"This is our first senior All-Ireland pennant. I'm over the moon, can't say I didn't dream or want this to happen. We did dream but sometimes dreams can be snatched away just as it was for Naas with that one chip," added Noel Dee, Ballina team captain.
Jumpers are worn as badges of honour all this week and Warrenpoint had the biggest army of support on show when they defeated Royal Tara 3½-1½ in the Pierce Purcell semi-final. The defending champions are now going for their fifth All-Ireland in today's final with Limerick.
After Limerick's Barton Shield loss the club's Pierce Purcell contingent keep the flag flying with a 4-1 win over Castlebar.
Today's other action sees Portmarnock take on Castletroy and defending champions Co Sligo against Warrenpoint in the Senior Cup semi-finals, while home favourites Monkstown play Strandhill and Co Cavan meet Clontarf in Jimmy Bruen semis.
