JIM HANLEY and P J Bennett couldn't claim that local knowledge assisted them in their critical Jimmy Bruen Shield sudden death play off with Headfort's Darragh Noone and Aidan Blaney at Co Longford Golf Club on Sunday.
The Longford pair finally won the second tie hole the par four 11th - with a bogey five after Bennett chipped in, adding a touch of panache to what had been something of a comedy of errors.
On the decisive hole, Noone drove into a drain while Bennett drove into trees. Advantage Longford? Not really. Hanley failed to move the ball and, then, Bennett could only hack it out 20 yards from the dreadful lie. Advantage Headfort? After taking a penalty drop, Blaney played a delightful shot through the trees to the front of the green.
Meanwhile, Longford's plight, apparently, got worse when Hanley suffered a "shank" and left the ball 35 yards right of the green in four. Definitely advantage Headfort. But Bennett then produced his miracle chip, playing a beautiful shot which, one bounce later, finished in the hole for an unlikely bogey.
Headfort, rattled by that, failed to get down from the edge in two; so, Longford progressed into the Leinster section final against Tullamore at Longford, an encounter postponed until June 2nd due to rain.
Rain Aso caused problems at another qualifying section in Dundalk, consequently the two protagonists Ardee and Greenore must return there for the final on June 4th.
