For the second time this year a Greystones GC team teed it up in an All-Ireland final this morning (15th). Our Junior Cup team, managed by Ray Crotty, Collie Dunne and Brian Frawley and guided by our PGA Pro, David Lewis took on Limerick GC at Knightsbrook GC in less that ideal weather conditions.
The same team that won the semi-final yesterday was selected for the final with Chris Lawless out number one, Will O’Riordan out second, Harry Kirk three, Toby Murphy fourth and Chris Boylan playing in the anchor position.
Six long months of preparation by the entire panel had gone into getting to this point and it was clear from the opening tee shots that Limerick were going to formidable opponents.
Chris was level par after six holes, but two down in the match! A birdie for Chris on eight got him back to just one behind in a what was a very high quality match. Holes nine to eleven were halved in pars but twelve went to Limerick when Chris unfortunately lost a ball close to the green in heavy rough after catching the lip of a fairway bunker. On thirteen Chris’ par putt for a half lipped out and he was now three down. He had a good chance to claw one back on the next hole but once again saw his putt lip out. Three down with four to play became game over when his opponent made birdie on fifteen to win the match 4&3.
Will was out second and was also up against a tough player. He lost the opening hole but was one up after four having won the second and fourth holes. Holes seven and eight went to his Limerick opponent and after a half on nine, where Will had to hole a five footer, the match moved to the back nine with Limerick having a one hole advantage. On ten, Will’s opponent hit his drive well right and had to hit a provisional ball, which he hit up the middle, Will’s drive had also gone up the middle. The Limerick man’s first ball was located in a tricky position near a broken down wall but he had a swing and he hit a great shot to find the putting surface. As it turned out, on this hole, straight up the middle off the tee was an area of short rough from where Will hit has approach to four feet and looked for all the world like he was about to square the match. As Will approached the green, his opponent’s caddy went to retrieve their provisional only to find that Will had hit their provisional ball in error ( both balls were Titleist 2 ), so two down instead of all square. Will bounced straight back however, to birdie and win eleven to get back to one down.
Out behind Will, Harry was not having his best day on the course and this was compounded by the fact that his opponent was having a very good one. Harry started slowly and by the time he found any rhythm he was five down through six. Form this point, despite his best efforts his opponent didn’t give him any breathing space and the match finished on the twelfth 7&6.
Toby, out number four, also lost the first but went into Toby mode from there and turned two up. Further wins on eleven and twelve got him to four up with six to play and very much in control of the match.
Our anchor man Chris Boylan, who was unbeaten in this competition before today, was up against an opponent with a similar record and it was clear that this was going to be a match and a half. Chris bucked the trend and won the opening hole and was clearly revelling in the match. He won the second, fifth and seventh also to get to three ahead, having lost the forth. Eight went to Limerick and a half on nine had the match at two up for Chris after the opening nine holes. Ten and eleven went to Greystones with Limerick getting one back with a birdie on twelve.
Meanwhile, up ahead Will was in a bit of bother however. His opponent had been playing very steady golf all morning but now upped his game, making an excellent up and down on twelve for par to go two up. He then held a thirty five footer for birdie on thirteen to go further ahead and made another birdie on fourteen to move to dormie four up. On fifteen he was on the green twenty five feet above their hole in two while Will’s approach from the wet rough came up short of the green. Will’s chip came up eight feet short and the Limerick man’s putt held up five feet from the hole. All down to nerve now. Will steadied himself and held his par putt to test his opponent but his opponent was up to the challenge and held his putt to win the match, the tie and the Junior Cup for Limerick.
Behind, Toby was three up through thirteen and Harry was four up playing fourteen when they were called in.
While the result today was devastating for the players and team management, hopefully when they reflect on their performances and the achievement of getting to the last two from two hundred and ninety two competing teams they will recognise how impressive this years campaign has been.
Thanks for the memories lads and here’s to 2024…
