Date posted: 23rd June 2021
The Men's Barton Cup team took on Bray last Friday evening at 5pm. Hard to follow on from the previous Sunday but on a sunny Friday evening once again there was drama aplenty.
George O'Connell / David McNamara /Luke O'Brien and Ger O'Connor headed down the N11 quietly confident. Having used Ger's inside knowledge they managed to dodge all the weekend traffic and arrived in plenty of time. However that's where the good luck ended and like their journey down, the trip around Bray golf club ended swifter than anticipated and not in our favour 0-2.
No pressure then on the home team!! Things did not start too well at home either. At the turn the score was 4.5/ 0.5 to Bray. Coming up the home straight Killiney had edged 3/2 in front. Paul Kirwan and Oscar Sexton got a magnificent Birdie on 18 to win 1 up. James Baily and James Neville followed up with a half on 18 to win 1 up. Meanwhile back down the fairway Stephen Connolly and Ben Kelly's match had been fluctuating all day and was probably fitting that it is all square playing 18. Bray drive into the 150 bush. We are in position A. Bray having 'negotiated' a free drop from the 150 bush, play a Hail Mary up and over the trees which finishes 20 yards short left of the green. Our second looks great in the air but takes a huge bounce on the bank in front of the green and runs up the back, a chip and two putts each. Up 19 we go. Bray get the par first. Stephen has a 8 footer across the slope to go down 20. Just as he is about to stroke the ball the green is invaded by a young boxer pup who likes the look of the open spaces and starts running around the green and through the bunker and is not in the mood to be caught. Eventually he gets bundled out the gate and Ice cool Steve Silvermint takes back up his stance and rolls the ball in. Down 20 Bray drive down the right along the out of bounds markers - it has to be gone - but no there it is right in the corner 2 yards from the hedges. 194 yards out 7 iron to get over the trees ball bounces 60 yards short of green and bounces and bounces and rolls and rolls and ends up pin high on the left fringe. Our second ends up left of the left bunker. Alas a good chip still leaves a 20ft putt which just finishes beside the hole, Bray have two for it, leave the first one 5ft short but hold the nerve and get the Par and its Sayonara to the Barton Cup 2-3 for another year. Sky sports would have paid for the drama.
Sunday started bright and sunny. Barton Shield two pairs of foursomes playing off scratch. Our Senior Cup hero's this time putting their might against Druids Heath's finest. Unfortunately there was no real drama in this one as the opposition got their noses in front early on, took a healthy lead just after the turn and never looked in danger of losing it. 0-2
Things were much closer on Monday when Daniel Schwer/ Thomas O'Sullivan Ackland and Samuel Inglis/ Daniel Begley took on Edmondstown on Monday. Daniel and Thomas came up against a very strong Edmondstown pair in Edmondstown (Two + 2 handicapers). Unluckily 2 down after 3. (A Rory moment with the ball plugging at the top of the greenside bunker on 3). They matched their opponents practically all the way before losing 17 to finish 3 down, a very creditable performance against such strong opposition. At home Samuel and Daniel were flying the flag winning 16 and 17 to go 2 up. A piece of bad luck on 18 and Edmondstown jumped in and won the last to leave Samuel and Daniel victors by 1 hole. The home and away scores get added together in this competition so Edmondstown finished victors by 2 holes.
Tuesday saw The Irish Boys Interclub in Elm Park. Team of 5 singles (Hugo Blake, Harry Brady, Caoimhin Cronin, Alex Doherty and Paddy Buckley) with best 3 individual scores to count. Top two teams qualify for the Leinster finals. Killiney put on a creditable performance with Caoimhin Cronin leading the way with 38 points. Unfortunately the team did not quite make the top 2.
Plenty of action again this weekend as the Senior Cup team are back in action vs Edmondstown on Friday 25th June at 4pm. Pierce Purcell vs Foxrock next Sunday at 9.00am. Best Cup vs Malahide Sunday at 4pm. I would encourage as many of you as possible to turn out in support. It really does make a difference. Unfortunately, I will be away for the weekend due to family commitments but I will be glued to the App and wish all teams the best of luck. I look forward to supporting all three in the next round.
Captain Brendan