Date posted: 29 July 2019, 12:08pm
Posted by: Peter Bennett
Niall Keyes was manager the Junior Cup Team in Dun Laoghaire, where he is a member. The team went on to win the competition.
Our qualifying score was 319 in Bray GC placed us joint third on the same score as Killiney GC and Milltown GC. After a countback Milltown were eliminated (phew!) and we played Elm Park in the semi-final winning 4/1 and a very tight match against last year’s winners, the Grange, in the final winning 3.5/1.5.
We met Millicent in the Quarter Final in Elm Park on the 6th July. Heart attack city! One of our players shot a one under par round to win by just one Hole! In the deciding match we were two up with two to play, lost the 17th and required a 30-foot putt from off the green to win the match on 18!
And so, to last weekend, where we were drawn to play Waterford in the Leinster Semi Finals. We lost two of my players to holidays requiring us to bring in our subs. They were magnificent. With the match poised at two apiece the final match saw us two down with three to play. You know what happens next…. we win 16,17 and 18 …and the match
The Island is a great golf course and their track record in inter club competitions is the envy of many including DLGC. Another setback meant drafting a 15-year-old 6 handicapper into the team for his first match…in the Final. Everyone stepped up the plate. Down 1/4 early on, we won one match on 19th, two others on 16 & 17, and were dormy 2 up in the uncompleted match. The winning putt was holed by none other than the 15-year-old. His dad, who caddied for him, was in floods of tears.
I am told by the members that the men’s club have not won a full Leinster pennant in 75 years and the members and officers past and present were beside themselves.
We are now off to Westport in September for the All- Ireland Final and preparations are underway.
Niall Keyes
Dun Laoghaire GC
