Golf All-Ireland Cups and ShieldsEmotional scenes and tears of joy accompanied the evening sun over Shannon yesterday as Sutton Golf Club secured the Barton Shield for the first time in 54-years on the opening day of the Bulmers All-Ireland Cups and Shields finals.
The north Dublin club's composed, five-holes victory over Ulster champions and favourites Ballyclare was particularly special as it bridged the gap to the time when the late Joe Carr - who passed away earlier this year - last won with Sutton.
With Ireland's best ever amateur on the team, Sutton enjoyed a rich period of success in those post-war days. They first won the Barton Shield in 1946, then went on to record back-to-back wins in 1949 and 1950.
"Joe knew this team well and last Christmas he told us that we had a collection of winners," said an emotional Pat Bowen, who manages the Sutton team along with Brian Wallace.
"I can tell you I was speaking to him (Joe Carr) on more than one occasion today and I know he was watching over us. This one is for Joe."
Ballyclare's Irish international Johnny Foster and foursomes partner Simon McConnell took an early lead in the match, but by the turn Sutton's Mark Collins and Séamus McMonagle were back on level terms. McMonagle, who comes from Dunfanaghy in Donegal and is the brother of professional and former Irish international Ciarán, said the turning point in their match came at the 216-yard par three 12th.
"Mark missed the green with his three-wood on the right, while Johnny played a great two-iron to the front of the green," explained the plus-one handicapper, who only joined Sutton two years ago.
"I managed to play my pitch to within inches of the hole for par and the lads three-putted after leaving the first putt short, and that gave us an unexpected, one hole lead."
The Sutton pair then proceeded to win the next two holes and never looked back. They were two up and called-in after the 219-yard par three 17th when the second pairing of Alan Darbey and Derek Downie were comfortably three up with three to play against Robert Forsyth and Steven Rea, and therefore the team couldn't be caught.
Sympathy must go to the losing Ballyclare team as they also braved the elements, which prevailed over the Shannon estuary for most of the day.
"It would have been great to win an All-Ireland title but we still have another chance as we meet Sutton once more, who are going for the double, in the semi-final of the Senior Cup tomorrow," said Foster, who plans to turn professional next Monday, as assistant to Michael McGee at Malone.
Earlier in the day gale force win and persistent rain threatened to win the day, but conditions improved greatly by the close of play. "We had the greenstaff on hand to use the squeegees on the greens but I was glad when I saw the sun come out," said Michael Corry, secretary manager of Shannon GC.
However, through the earlier inclement weather Sutton ran out comfortable four-hole winners over Athlone, as the same pairings both won by two holes each. In Ballyclare's case, they also kept the same pairings for the final and won by six holes over Munster champions Castletroy.
In the Junior Cup semi-finals Lucan and Portstewart advanced to today's final with some ease. Lucan, the Leinster champions, were comfortable 4-1 winners over Bandon in the first semi-final. Billy O'Boyle was the only player to put a point on the board for the West Cork team with his 3 and 2 win over Christy Fitzgerald. Portstewart's 3½-1½ victory was confirmed when 15-year-old Paul Cutler held his nerve to claim the all-important third point by defeating Galway's Michael Dowd at the 19th. Andrew Stewart and Niall McGahon had already recorded 4 and 2 wins over their respective opponents, David Michael Hennelly and Gary Scott.
If Lucan, who have never won the Junior Cup before, will be looking to make history, then Portstewart will be seeking to repeat history. The only other time the Antrim club lifted the Cup was way back in 1973, and that success came at another Co Clare venue in Lahinch.
In the Pierce Purcell semi-finals, Connacht champions Ballinrobe won their first three matches to go through 3-2 against Borris. Tralee, meanwhile, were far too strong for late entrants Letterkenny and won 4-1. Ulster finalists Letterkenny got a second bite at the cherry when Kilkeel declared a mistake with two of their players' handicaps. The Mayo team of Ballinrobe will take on the Kerrymen of Tralee. A fixture not dissimilar to this year's All-Ireland Football final.
The Details
CUPS AND SHIELDS NATIONAL FINALS
(Shannon Golf Club)
BARTON SHIELD
Semi-finals: Sutton bt Athlone 4 holes (Sutton names first) Mark Collins, Seamus McMonagle bt Marc Rowe, Marc Butler 2 Holes; Derek Downie, Alan Darbey bt Padraig O'Boyle, Ciaran O'Connor 2 holes. Ballyclare bt Castletroy 6 holes (Ballyclare names first) John Foster, Simon McConnell bt John Kavanagh, Eamon Haugh 4 holes; Robert Forsythe, Steven Rea bt Stephen Moloney, Redmond McDonnell 2 holes. Final: Sutton bt Ballyclare 5 holes (Sutton names first) Mark Collins, Seamus McMonagle bt John Foster, Simon McConnell 2 holes; Alan Darbey, Derek Downie bt Robert Forsythe, Steven Rea 3 holes.
JUNIOR CUP
Semi-finals: Lucan 4 Bandon 1 (Lucan names first) Mark Clifford bt Brian O'Donovan 1 hole; Martin O'Toole bt Adrian O'Donovan 7 and 6; Christy Fitzgerald lost to Billy O'Boyle 3 and 2; Emmet Condron bt Bernard O'Driscoll 3 and 2; Alan Madden bt Patrick McCarthy 6 and 5. Portstewart 3½ Galway 1½ (Portstewart names first) Andrew Stewart bt Michael Hennelly 4 and 2; Paul Cutler bt Michael Dowd 19th; Niall McGahon bt Gary Scott 4 and 3; Dan Henry lost to Damian Glynn 8 and 6; Shane McCotter halved with Niall Shaw.
PIERCE PURCELL SHIELD
Semi-finals: Ballinrobe 3 Borris 2 (Ballinrobe names first) John Canty, Pat Malone bt Pat McGrath, Tony Mitchell 5 and 4; Pat Coyne, Noel Browne bt Greg Murphy, John Quinn 5 and 4; Dave Fleming, Monty Heneghan bt Edward Holden, Michael Condon 19th; John O'Shea, Pat Nalty lost to Michael Coady, Shane Foley 3 and 1; Ray Darcy, John Joyce lost to Jimmy Conran, James Lillis 4 and 3. Tralee 4 Letterkenny 1 (Tralee names first) Peter O'Driscoll, Maurice Laide bt John Russell, Lester Speer 6 and 5; Sean Reidy, Patrick Curran halved with Richard Eaton, Danny McLaughlin; Michael Halloran, Richard Barrett bt Barry Ramsay, Pat McMonagle 2 and 1; Dominic Foley, Michael O'Brien bt Tony Curley, John P O'Doherty 3 and 1; Liam Hussey, Brian Lennon halved with Frank McMonagle, Cathal Roarty.
TODAY'S PAIRINGS
JUNIOR CUP FINAL (8.30) - Lucan v Portstewart (Lucan names first) Mark Clifford v Andrew Stewart; Martin O'Toole v Paul Cutler; Christy Fitzgerald v Niall McGahon; Emmet Condron v Dan Henry; Alan Madden v Shane McCotter.
JIMMY BRUEN SHIELD semi-finals (9.45) Kilkeel v Portumna (Kilkeel names first) Rory Sloane, Kieran Poland v Pat Quinlan, James Porter; Pascal Morgan, Johnny Aiken v Leslie O'Meara, Francis McClearn; Anthony Ward, Ciaran Hartigan v Joe Slattery, Dick Quinlivan; Trevor Weir, Graeme Morrow v Matt Donohoe, Peadar Ryan; Mark Trainor, Paul Higgins v Michael McGivern, Sean Robinson. Charleville v Dundalk - 10.45 (Charleville names first) James Browne, Declan Mooney v Ken Norton, Michael Coburn; Sean McSweeney, Bill Hanley v Sean Reidy, Kevin Barry; Danny Deady, Mike Galligan v Alan McCabe, Michael Gill; Tom Allen, John Kavanagh v Damien English, Ruairi Gogarty; Anthony Fitzgerald, Eddie Barry v Jim Dwyer, Maurice Murphy.
PIERCE PURCELL SHIELD Final (12.00) Ballinrobe v Tralee (Ballinrobe names first) John Canty, Pat Malone v Peter O'Driscoll, Maurice Laide; Pat Coyne, Noel Browne v Sean Reidy, Patrick Curran; John O'Shea, Pat Nalty v Michael Halloran, Richard Barrett; Dave Fleming, Monty Heneghan v Michael O'Brien, Dominic Foley; Ray Darcy, John Joyce v Liam Hussey, Brian Lennon.
SENIOR CUP semi-finals (1.30) Tramore v Athenry (Tramore names first) Michael Burns v Mark King; Clancy Bowe v Barry Donoghue; Derek Burns v Michael Mulryan; John Mitchellv Conor Waters; Peter Power v Michael Lane. Sutton v Ballyclare - 2.20 (Sutton names first) Paul Byrne v John Foster; Mark Collins v Robert Forsythe; Derek Downie v Steven Rea; Seamus McMonagle v Simon McConnell; Alan Darbey v Colin Steele.
