Battle royal at Navan

It was drama all the way with three matches going to tie holes and one to the 18th in an exciting finish to the qualifying round of the Leinster section of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Navan on Sunday when Royal Tara edged out neighbours Headfort 3-2.

Christy Bowens and Noel Ryan beat Christy Phillips and Jimmy Johnston at the first tie hole but after David Smith and Paddy Duff squared it at one all against Andy Hennelly and John McGrath, Headfort took the third match when Donal Mitchell and John Brogan came from five down with six to play to beat Martin Casey and Soo Hee Ding on the 19th.

So it was left to the last two matches, and Royal Tara took both to advance to the play-offs. Vinny Byrne and John Geraghty came from one down playing the last to beat Gerry Horgan and Michael Furry at the 19th and Tom Quinn and Mick Burke won the deciding match on the 18th against Andrew Lynch and Brendan Reilly. Royal Tara will now meet either Portarlington or Mullingar in the play-offs while Enniscorthy take on Callan.