NATIONAL CUPS AND SHIELDS FINALS:THE CONVEYOR belt keeps turning, as evidenced here in the Chartis-sponsored Irish Cups and Shields at Kinsale yesterday where some of the bright young things of Irish golf created history of one sort or another. Donaghadee, for one, featured a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old in a team which captured the Irish Junior Cup – and gave the club a first green pennant in its 113 years history – and NUI Maynooth, the new kids on the block, heralded the dawn of a potential new dynasty.
The future, it would seem, is bright. And, no sooner had NUI Maynooth claimed an eight-holes victory margin over Banbridge in the prestige Barton Shield – with a team comprised of players of handicaps ranging from scratch to a barely fathomable plus-three – than scholarship co-ordinator Bob Joyce’s mobile phone beeped with a message from three-time Major champion Pádraig Harrington.
“Well done to all the team. I’m delighted for them,” it read.
Given the Maynooth college’s team consisted of a quartet of players who have used a Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship to further their educations and their golf games, the congratulatory message was rather appropriate.
Maynooth delivered in some style.
Conor O’Rourke and Jonny Yates, both from Naas, were one-hole winners over Rory Leonard and Colin Wilton and the winning total (the combined aggregate of holes won in this unique foursomes determines the winners) was attained with a quite superb performance from Barry Anderson and Gary Hurley, who ran out seven-hole winners over Connor Doran and Jim Carvill.
The worthiness of the Maynooth scholarship system can be gauged by its ability to keep young Irish golfers here as part of their development.
Anderson, a recent graduate, was offered a place in the University of Alabama – Graeme McDowell’s alma mater – and Hurley, a current Irish international, had an option to go to Arkansas but both chose to remain in Ireland.
“For me, personally, it’s been immense,” said Anderson.
“I don’t think I would have got through college [without the scholarship]. It’s not only all the coaching we get, it’s [having] everyone around, getting you through college, your exams, practising and playing together at Carton House.
“It gave a blend of great golf with a great degree. It was a win- win situation. When I came to college first, I was a solid enough player but just with the help of [GUI national coach] Neil [Manchip] and playing with good players every day, it just brings you along. Gary coming in this year, he’s brought it up another level.”
Out on the course, the students proved to be the masters. The top pairing of O’Rourke and Yates played solid, par golf for the duration of their match but, behind, the Hurley-Anderson combination were handing out a lesson to Doran, a full international, and Carvill, a 46-year-old veteran who has claimed six gold medals in these championships down the years.
Yesterday, though, belonged to the younger men.
Having shown their intent with an opening birdie, the Maynooth players moved four-up with another birdie on the ninth – where Hurley pitched to five feet – and, then, Anderson rolled in another 30-footer for birdie on the 10th to stretch the lead and they were seven holes up when the match was closed out playing the 15th.
Donaghadee – and their supporters who made the 297 miles road trip from the Co Down coast to Kinsale – had much to celebrate after a winning a maiden green pennant in the club’s 113th year with a 4-1 win over Athenry in the Junior Cup.
Andrew Clegg, at 16, and Mark Rea, at 15, showed their undoubted potential in registering wins before William McCutcheon brought them over the line in an impressive show that the team captain Gareth Stranaghan claimed to be “one of the proudest days of my life . . . . it means so much for this golf club, a major All-Ireland pennant for the first time in our history.
“It’s fairytale stuff, a dream come true.”
In the Pierce Purcell Shield semi-finals, Newcastlewest lived up to the tag of favourites – established in the impressive nature of their win in the Munster qualifying – when accounting for Royal Dublin by 4-1 to set up a final showdown with Connacht champions Gort, who needed an 18th hole win from Gerry Broderick and John Moylan in the final foursomes to overcome Foyle.
