CUPS AND SHIELDS: THE DRINKS were flowing in the bar of Monkstown Golf Club yesterday afternoon as Limerick won their first Pierce Purcell pennant just hours before the host club trounced Strandhill to book their place in today's final of the Jimmy Bruen.
The Bulmers-sponsored All-Ireland Cups and Shields finals are a genuine festival of amateur team golf where euphoric highs are inevitably matched by disappointing lows. Matchplay golf makes for such a compelling spectacle, coupled with camaraderie, pints and exchange of yarns between teams in the bar afterwards. Legions of spectators took to the course again to support their clubs.
Ger Naughton's Limerick side knew they had a tough task taking on the defending champions Warrenpoint in the Pierce Purcell final. And things started slowly for the new champions, who eventually ran out 3½-1½ winners.
Séamus Sands and Damian Flanagan put the first point on the board for Warrenpoint with a 4 and 3 win over John Reilly and Declan Barriscale in the top match. Eamonn Kirby and Eamonn Grimes, who captained Limerick when they last won the hurling All-Ireland back in 1973, levelled proceedings with their one-hole win over Andrew Ferguson and Paul Devlin.
"That was our toughest game of the year. And sure, this is great, it gives me something to do after the hurling," said the 62-year-old Grimes with a wry smile.
When veteran brothers John and Gerard Gleeson, both in their 70s, won the last and deciding match by defeating Noel Devine and Séamus Pentony 3 and 2 the celebrations could begin in earnest.
"I'm absolutely delighted, a first Pierce Purcell for Limerick," said Naughton, who was ribbed by non-team members who overheard his passionate motivational speech at the team hotel on Wednesday night.
"This was a tough day, in the early stages we were down by at least two holes in four matches. But we improved our game and got the better of a good Warrenpoint side. I've achieved something Nick Faldo can't do, I've won the Pierce Purcell," he added.
The first action of the day saw Portmarnock, fresh from their Barton Shield win, run out of steam to lose the first semi-final of the Senior Cup to Castletroy 3½- 1½, though Niall Goulding gave it his all for the Dublin club in the top match. The 42-year-old birdied the 18th to force extra holes against Eamonn Haugh. He then knocked a wonderful five-iron into 12 feet and holed for another birdie and a win.
However, Thursday's Portmarnock heroes, Aengus McAllister (2 and 1) and James Fox (3 and 2) both lost to Jason Tobin and Stephen Moloney respectively.
John Kavanagh's 3 and 2 win over Geoff Lenehan in the final match sealed Portmarnock's fate as Castletroy now face Warrenpoint in today's final.
Warrenpoint's blend of youth and experience proved too good a combination against defending champions Co Sligo as they too won by a 3½-1½ margin and go in pursuit of their third Senior Cup.
Former professionals Paddy Gribben and Jim Carvill were both on the 1987 and 1990-winning sides and they provided backbone to an otherwise youthful team.
"I played really solid and was two-under for 17 holes, that's good shooting on a tricky course," said Gribben after his 2 and 1 win over Barry Anderson. Paul Reavey (3 and 1) and Colm Campbell Jnr (3 and 2) also won, while Carvill's match was called in when the overall result was confirmed.
"These young guys are hungry for it and so am I, to be honest. I'm glad to be back in the thick of it, it's a long time since I felt those emotions when competing," added Gribben.
In the Jimmy Bruen semis home advantage proved telling as Monkstown gave Strandhill a real thumping. The top match was won 4 and 3 before Nick Hayes and Carl Toal triumphed 8 and 6 and were soon followed by Denis Daly and John Barry who won 6 and 5.
That quickly ended the contest as the last two matches were called in with the official result going 4-1 in Monkstown's favour.
"We didn't expect to win by such a convincing margin but the numbers speak for themselves," said Richie Dunlea, who is co-team captain with his father Dick.
Monkstown will now play Clontarf in today's final after they defeated Co Cavan 4-1, where two matches went to extra holes before Michael Kellett and Neal O'Flynn won at the 20th against Pádraig McEntee and Patrick Flynn to seal the overall win.
