Sligo put an end to 96 years of cup frustration

SO, HISTORY was made at Tramore on Saturday when Co Sligo Golf Club became the first Connacht team to lift the Irish Senior Cup and it was appropriate that Kevin Flanagan, a member of a clan indelibly connected with the Rosses Point links, should provide the winning putt as the westerners ensured a fruitful haul from the Bulmers All Ireland Cups and Shields Finals.

In capturing the Senior Cup Sligo confirmed their status as the country's top club; two days previously, they had retained the Barton Shield. Still, the Senior Cup, the top team prize in Irish golf, had proven an elusive accolade for 96 years and, in more recent times, particularly so with Sligo losing four previous finals in the past five years.

Not this time. But Sligo were, forced to dig deep into their reserves of character to dismiss Limerick with Flanagan's win at the 19th hole, against Mike Kemmy, proving decisive after wins for David Dunne and Ken Kearney for Sligo were cancelled out by Limerick victories for Michael O'Kelly and Ger Vaughan.

Flanagan, a doctor who practices in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, proved the Sligo hero in their 3-2 win. He had grabbed a one hole advantage at the 14th where Kemmy three pulled from just off the green and was brought back to all square at the 16th when Kemmy sank a 15 foot putt for par.

Despite the tension, both players showed sportsmanship at the 7th, conceeding each other's three foot putts; and, at the par five 18th, the pendulum appeared to have swung Flanagan's way when he was 75 yards ahead of Kemmy off the tee and then hit a magnificent three wood just short of the green. But Kemmy showed his fighting qualities and scrambled a half.

The two men's respective tee shots at the first were crucial: Kemmy, who had opted for irons off the tee at the two previous holes, took the driver out of his bag and hooked his shot into a drain on the left, from where he was forced to take a penalty drop. Flanagan's driving, in contrast, was flawless and he again found the middle of the fairway.

However, Kemmy, having dropped out of the drain, played a super third shot over the trees onto the green while Flanagan, who had waited for more than 10 minutes while a decision was taken on the penalty drop, put his approach through the green. Yet he was in a position to putt - and did so to two feet and, when Kemmy narrowly missed his courageous attempt to save par, Flanagan calmly tapped in the putt which ended Sligo's long wait for the trophy.

Earlier, former Irish international Kearney was in top form finishing his match with Michael Galvin by a six and five margin, while Dunne, successfully overcoming the effects of arthritis in his foot, won four successive holes to come from one down to beat Irish youth international Tim Rice, flown home from University in Toledo for the occasion, by three and two.

Limerick's Michael O'Kelly, again in fine form, was a four and three winner over Seryth Heavey, while Ger Vaugahn, who holed important putts at the 14th and 15th holes to keep his lead, was a two and one winner over George Paterson, the greens superintendent at Rosses Point.

Sligo's win ensured entry into an elite group of clubs who have won the Senior Cup and Barton Shield in the one year a feat last achieved by Tramore at Killarney in 1992 and, also, gives them the right to represent Ireland in next year's European Club Championship.

There was another history making achievement at Tramore on Saturday when Thurles - to the accompanying strains of Sheverianion - won their first green pennant with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Donabate in the Jimmy Bruen Shield Final. Joe Irwin, who was a late replacement for Harry Mulhaire, forced to pull out due to a family illness, and Sean Whelan were four and three winners over Paul Fagan and Noel O'Connell and overall victory was ensured 20 minutes later when, almost simultaneously, the partnerships of Eavan Long John Hayes and Michael Hayes Seamus Troy wrapped up their matches.