The Short Game

Compiled by Shay Keenan

Royal Dublin celebrate

Leading 4-1 after the first leg, Royal Dublin won the necessary two points to take the FBD- sponsored Barton Cup for the first time since 1979 by beating Old Conna 3½-1½ in the second leg at Old Conna on Saturday for an overall 7½-2½ win. Irish Boys international Gary McGrane and Peter Cloonan set Royal Dublin on their way with a 4 and 3 win over Sean Lynch and Frank Finan after turning one up, and the Cup was secured when brothers Darragh and Conor Coghlan beat Liam and Fionn Collins (no relations) 3 and 2.

It was also a memorable week for Neil O'Briain. A student at Wofford College in South Carolina, were he returned on Sunday, O'Briain won the Connacht Youths with a last round of 69 on Friday, then made his way to Old Conna where he and partner John O'Donovan were called in from the 19th after a titanic struggle with Philip Brennan and young Andrew Montgomery.

Other members of the winning Royal Dublin team were Peter Early and Michael Chambers, Alan Higgins and Ciaran Lynch, John Harrington and Paul O'Grady. The team was captained by Brendan O'Malley.

Keane makes his mark

Malahide's Iarlaith Keane recorded a second round of one-under-par 70 to capture the Irish Boys Under-15 Open Championship at Balbriggan Golf Club. Keane, who held the joint overnight lead after shooting a first round of 72 in wet conditions on Wednesday, won by two strokes from Ruaidhri McGee (City of Derry).

Playing together in the final group, Keane and McGee duelled for the lead over the opening 10 holes, before McGee met trouble, taking five on the par three 11th where Keane made birdie. McGee drew back to level terms covering the next five holes in one under par, before Keane's par-birdie finish secured victory.

The round of the championship was recorded by Mourne's Reeve Whitson, whose 69 in round two elevated him to third place.

McCarroll strikes again

East of Ireland champion Brendan McCarroll added the 36 -hole Tennant's Lager Rosapenna Scratch Cup to his 2006 successes at the Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in Donegal. Morning play was on the Sandy Hills Links, where McCarroll returned a level par 71. In the afternoon session, McCarroll posted a three-under-par 67 on the Old Tom Morris Links.

Irish International Conor Doran was runner- up with a 141 total which included a double bogey on the 18th hole at Sandy Hills in the morning. Rory Leonard and Richard Kilpatrick filled third and fourth spots on 144.

Up-and-coming stars and Irish Boys Internationals, Paul Cutler, Portstewart, and Michael McGinley, Grange, took fourth and fifth places on 146 and 147 respectively.

Duo's sweet success

Seamus Doherty and Mark Doyle, both eight-handicappers, representing South County Golf Club, won the first Irish final of The International Pairs which was held last week at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club. Over 40 clubs took part in the final and the winners dovetailed magnificently, with Doyle coming in on 10 holes and Doherty carding three birdies which gave them a superb 45 points.

They had two points to spare over Dermot Moore (18) and Michael O'Donoghue (17) from Westmanstown, who shot 43 points for second place on a countback from John Connolly (10) and Aidan Campbell (9), representing Portarlington.

Interestingly, all three prize winners came from clubs who were entering the event for the first time. Doherty and Doyle will now go forward to represent Ireland at the World Finals of the International Pairs which will be held at St Andrews bay in Scotland next year.

This Thursday sees the Northern final at the Glashedy course at Ballyliffin, where Ulster and Connacht clubs play-off to decide which pair will accompany the Castleknock winners to Scotland next year.

IHF pin their hopes

The Irish Hospice Foundation is expecting the support of over 150 clubs and societies for the second National Nearest-the-Pin competition, which is being organised to coincide with World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on October 7th.

There will be an overall trophy for the winner and five prizes of a trip to St Andrews. The competition will be run by each participating club or society on men's and ladies' competition days up to an including Sunday, October 29th.

This is the second year of this fund-raiser which seeks to raise much-needed funds in support of the Irish Hospice Foundation. Last year some 114 clubs participated in the competition.

For further information or to register your club or society contact Críona Murray at the Irish Hospice Foundation on 01-6793188 or e-mail: criona@hospice-foundation.ie

Meath rise to occasion

Meath Tourism have confirmed all 14 clubs in the county will be holding their prices unchanged in the run-up to the Ryder Cup at The K Club in a few weeks. Furthermore, many have set aside blocks of time on their time sheets during the week of the competition for visitors who wish to play golf and watch the action at Straffan from the comfort of the clubhouse.

The announcement was made at the launch of the Royal Fairways four-for-three initiative. Royal Fairways offers golfers an attractive discount for a fourball at any of the participating clubs in the county (subject to availability). Visit www.meathtourism.ie or email marketing@meathtourism.ie for information on how to avail of this offer.

Larkin still an ace

Former Dublin footballing great Alan Larkin had a day to remember at the recent Raheny GAA Classic at St Anne's Golf Club.

Not only did he help his fellow team members - including RTÉ presenter Darragh Moloney and former Dublin star Norman Bernard - to victory in the team event, but he also had a hole-in-one at the 10th hole.

The double success proved an early present for Larkin who celebrated his birthday the following day. A host of other former Dublin players played in the event, including Ciaran Whelan, Mossie Quinn, Paul Clarke and David Henry. The funds generated by the highly successful outing will be put to good use by the north Dublin club who intend to build an all-weather facility at their grounds in Raheny.

Castle defend crown

The semi-finals and finals of the 2006 Menolly Homes Ltd ILGU Inter-Club Fourball will take place at Mount Juliet tomorrow and Thursday. With over 200 clubs competing for this year's trophy, the final four teams have each survived seven gruelling rounds to make this week's semi-finals. Defending champions Castle beat 2005 hosts The K Club to win the Eastern Regional final and will play 2005 Northern Region winners Ballybofey & Stranorlar.

Waterford beat Lee Valley in the Southern Regional final and will play Birr, who impressively ended the hopes of Mountbellew in the Western Regional finals. The winners will be hoping to join Castle (2005) and Roscommon (2004) as champions for the year.

Cork bridge long gap

Cork Golf Club ladies senior team bridged a 79-year gap when they won the Suzuki Irish Senior Cup at Massereene GC last weekend by defeating County Louth 3-2 in the final. Cork had won this Irish Senior Cup just once - in 1927 - and the last time they won the Southern District Finals was in 1963.

Cork's men's team have also reached the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup Finals to be played in Enniscrone later this month. The Cork ladies had a very strong side led by Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan, with Scottish international Ann Laing playing at number two.

Down the line they also had experienced campaigner Miriam Abernethy, Gillian O'Leary, who won the recent Castletroy Cup, Mary Lowney, Ann Cowley and Ger Walley. Cork had beaten Royal County Down in the semi-finals, while County Louth had accounted for The Curragh, having earlier beaten Roscommon in the play-off.

The final was a tight affair with Cork going two up with Coughlan and Laing winning their matches, before County Louth drew level at 2-2, only for Abernethy to seal the winning point against Patricia Nannery.