Malone defy odds: Malone caused a major upset at Lisburn when they beat Banbridge 4-1 in the Bulmers Ulster final of the Irish Senior Cup.
Against all the odds, the Rollo McClure-skippered team are on course to win the Blue Riband of Irish golf for a first time since 1955.
After beating a strong Clandeboye team in the semi-final, the Malone youngsters beat Ballyclare 4-1 in the final. Jamie McCracken led the charge against Banbridge by beating Conor Doran on the final green in the opening test. Colm Montgomery had a clinical 3 and 2 result against Richard Kilpatrick, and teenager Karl Gilbert made sure of the title by defeating another youngster, Dean Nicolletti, on the 16th green.
Banbridge ace Rory Leonard, who inspired the Down team to a 3-2 win against favourites Ballyclare in the semi-final, was two up with three holes remaining against Andrew Boyle when called in. And at the tail-end, Malone's dark horse Andrew Deane was leading Kieran Magennis when reeled ashore.
O'Reilly best at Grange
Headfort teenager Ronan O'Reilly shot rounds of 74 and 71 to win the Allianz Dublin Boys Championship at Grange last week. A seven-over-par total of 145 gave the 17-year-old a two-shot win over Dara Hayes of Stackstown, with Barry Daly of Hazel Grove edging out Andrew Fox for third place on the back nine.
O'Reilly, who trailed Stackstown's Liam Mulligan by two shots after the first round, made two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in his closing 71.
Kernan's men out
All-Ireland football winners Joe Kernan and Benny Tierney of Armagh went head to head at the Ulster final of the FBD All-Ireland Golf Challenge at Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club, Cavan, last week. Kernan's Crossmaglen and Tierney's Mullaghbane battled it out with GAA clubs from all over the province for the chance to play at the final at Faithlegg in September.
Mullaghbane finished first on 79 points, four ahead of O'Donovan Rossa from Antrim. Lisnaskea of Fermanagh finished third, with The Burren from Down fourth. Mullaghbane will compete with Rower Inistioge of Kilkenny, Midleton of Cork and Micheál Breathneachs of Galway in the All-Ireland final.
Holt on countback
Marie Holt from Slade Valley took the Sybil Moore Trophy at the Leinster Senior Golden Years Championship at Clontarf recently. Holt shot 34 points off a 26 handicap to beat Balcarrick's Rita Hamilton on a countback. Una Mulcahy (Malahide) edged out Bridget O'Rourke from the home club and Glencullen's Julie Gilligan after all three finished on 33 points. Mary Sinton (Dundalk) won the gross with 20 points while the Mary Nolan Trophy for the over-70 category went to Clontarf's Marian Griffin with 30 points.
Woulfe breaks barrier
Winning in style while putting himself in the record books at Newcastle West over the weekend was Liam Woulfe. On his way to winning the Musgrave Cup, the 16-handicapper broke the magical 50-point barrier and in the process set a course record of 52 for the Limerick club. Eoin Duggan, playing off 17, fired 43 points to take second, while Mike Costello (21) took third with 40 points. Brian Lenihan (5) was the gross winner with 32 points.
Officers lead way
Leading by example was the Lady Captain at Beech Park last week as she claimed one of the club's major honours, the President's Prize to Ladies. Adrienne Kelly, a 25 handicapper, took home the lovely prize by firing a highly impressive 42 points. However, it was a close-run thing, her score on the back nine clinching it as Louise Doyle (25) fired the same score but had to settle for winning class two. The other class winners on the day were Mary Smyth (17), who won class one with 33 points, and Tara Keane (40), who won class three with 34 points.
And in Wicklow another officer took victory as President Kay Murphy, playing off 2, was a winner of the weekly singles with a superb 46 points.
Seán Óg agus aclaí
It has been a momentous year for RTÉ's Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin. Eighty years of age earlier this year, he was inducted into the Leinster Council Gaelic Greats Hall of Fame last month at Croke Park. And last Wednesday he proved his golfing game is still sharp. In the monthly medal at his home club, Hermitage, the 18-handicapper swept all before him to fire a superb 39 points, 19 on the front and 20 on the back, which included just one point at the final hole, for a superb win, four better than the field.
Oughterard Am/Am
Oughterard Golf Club are holding an Am/Am next Friday. Teams of four cost €100 to enter. A time-sheet is in operation and places are available by phoning the clubhouse on 091-552131.
The Heath turn it on
The Heath secured a deserved win in the recent Midland League final at the wonderful Faithlegg Golf Club. The Co Laois club were given a real run for their money by Waterford, the opening two matches ending in 2 and 1 wins for The Heath, with Catherine Reilly and Rita McNamara overcoming the respective challenges of Evelyn Hearn and Fiodhona Cosgrove, before Betina Jeffreys of Waterford in the third match out made it 2-1 with a 2 and 1 win over the Heath's Marie Conlon. In the fourth match out, The Heath's Nuala Arrigan secured a 6 and 5 win over Emily Treacy, while the final match between Ann McCarthy and Carmel Walsh was called in to leave The Heathwinners on a 3½ to 1½ margin.
Death of John Brett
To say the sudden death of John Brett, Chairman of the Munster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland, has come as a shock to the golfing community is an understatement. As fine a chairman as John was, his untimely death at 65 is a blow to a far wider community. He was a fine golfer with a history going back to his early playing days in Muskerry Golf Club. He later moved to Douglas Golf Club, where he was a dedicated player and Captain in 1981.
His career as a dental student and surgeon brought him to join many clubs, such as Belvoir Park and Huntington, before returning to Douglas.
On attaining membership of the Council of the Munster Branch in 1992 he excelled, captaining the Irish Youths team in 1998. As Chairman of the Munster Branch, he would have been expected to become President of the GUI in 2006.
His interest in sport was not confined to golf. He played Senior Cup rugby for his Alma Mater, CBC, and got his rugby colours with UCC. He played soccer for Western Rovers and was an avid follower of GAA. His encyclopaedic knowledge of sport was renowned. He was also a great family man.
Sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Sheila, daughter, Shivaun, and sons Peter and John, and to his extended family and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
