Hard luck to Alan Byrne and Fergal Duffy and their squad who came up just short this afternoon in the Leinster South final of the Jimmy Bruen.
This was the first time since the first round that we held home advantage but unfortunately it wasn’t to be our day.
Our first home pairing of Tom Byrne & Jamie Anderson got off to a great start. They halved the first and won the second and they never looked like they were in any trouble for the rest of their match. They turned four up and won their match 6&5 ( not the first time that they did this ).
Our second away pairing of Cian Gilmore & Ben Crowley had demolished their opposition away in Dun Laoghaire last time out. They won the first and we were all hoping for a repeat performance. Alas it wasn’t to be and despite turning just 1 down, Beech Park pulled away dramatically on the back nine and won the match 5&4.
One all…..
Our third pair at home today, Michael Smullen & Paul Keane were involved in a very tight match and were in touch for most of the round. Constant pressure from the opposition however kept them ahead for the whole match. Two down after nine, became three down through twelve and a loss on the fifteenth closed the match 4 &3.
Advantage Beech Park ….
Our second home pair today of Ray Crotty & Kieran Dowdall have been excellent throughout the campaign but it wasn’t to be their day today. They found themselves three down after seven holes but battled on, winning the eighth & ninth to be just one down at the turn. Beech Park regrouped and won ten and the fourteenth to get to three up with four to play. Ray & Kieran won the par 5, fifteenth and had a great chance to steal the sixteenth but a great up and down from the bunker by their opposition and an unfortunate three putt sealed the match and the pennant for Beech Park 3 & 2.
Our first pair away from home Mark Byrne & Craig Hazelton got off to a great start and were two up after three holes. The opposite number dug deep and didn’t let them run away from there and the match was all square by the time they had completed the front nine. Wins on thirteen & fourteen for Beech Park had them at two up with four to play when called in.
This year’s campaign saw a huge effort from the managers, Alan and Fergal and the entire the squad. They did the club proud in how they represented us all and some of the golf on display during their matches was of a much higher standard then might be expected at this handicap level.
Hard luck and well done to all.
