Greystones took on Dun Laoghaire in the latest round of the Fitzgibbon Cup last Sunday, with matches played both at home and away. In a closely contested fixture, both teams secured three wins each, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
Chris Boylan and Colm O’Neill were up first at home and put in a strong effort in a competitive match. Their opponents came out strong, winning holes 1 and 2 to take an early lead. A quick response from Greystones saw them claim holes 3 and 4, bringing the match back to all square. As the front nine progressed, both sides settled into a rhythm, with the Greystones pair keeping things close through the turn. On the back nine, Boylan and O’Neill picked up a win on hole 11, but their opponents capitalised on key moments, winning holes 13, 14 and 16. Despite battling to halve multiple holes, the match concluded on the 16th, with Dun Laoghaire taking the win 3&2.
Barry O’Leary and Alan Byrne were up next and started strongly with wins on holes 1 and 3, setting the tone for a controlled performance. Their dominance continued as they claimed holes 8, 10, and 12, building a solid lead. Dun Laoghaire responded with a win on 13, but the Greystones pair kept their composure, adding another victory on hole 15. With the match firmly in their hands, they saw it out by halving hole 16, sealing a 2&1 victory.
Collie Dunne and Shane O’Neill were the final home pairing out and found themselves trailing early after losing hole 1, but they bounced back with a quick response to win the 2nd. The match was a tight one as Greystones walked down the laneway all square. Collie and Shane made a strong start to the back nine, winning holes 11, 13 and 15 to take a commanding 3-up lead with just three to play. However, Dun Laoghaire refused to go down without a fight, mounting a late comeback with wins on 16 and 17 to cut the deficit to just one. With the match hanging in the balance, the Greystones duo showed great composure and experience on the final hole, closing it out to secure a well-earned 1-up victory.
Shane O’Connor and Shane Power were our first away pairing of the afternoon got off to a solid start, winning hole 2 after dropping the 1st. The match remained tight through the early stages, but Dun Laoghaire began to edge ahead. The Greystones pairing fought to stay in the match, halving several holes in a determined effort, but they were unable to bridge the gap, eventually falling to a 3&2 defeat.
Des Hickey and Ollie Packman started steadily, winning hole 3 after dropping the opener. The match remained a back-and-forth battle, with Dun Laoghaire claiming hole 4 before Greystones responded in style, winning holes 5 and 8 to move ahead. Heading into the back nine, Hickey and Packman continued to hold a narrow advantage, picking up a key win on hole 10 and following it up with another on hole 11. However, Dun Laoghaire found another gear when it mattered most, producing a strong finish with wins on holes 15, 17 and 18 to overturn the deficit and secure a 2 up victory.
Shane Nolan and Dylan Cavazza were our last pairing out and came out strong, winning hole 1 to set the tone early. They extended their lead with impressive play on holes 4 and 6, keeping Dun Laoghaire on the back foot. Their opponents fought back with wins on holes 9 and 10, but the Greystones duo stayed composed, reclaiming momentum with a clutch win on hole 11. As the match entered the closing stretch, Nolan and Cavazza remained calm, securing hole 16 to maintain their advantage. With the match still up for grabs, they held firm on hole 18 to seal a well-earned 2 up victory.
With both teams battling hard, a 3-3 draw was a fair reflection of a competitive day’s play. Greystones produced strong performances across both home and away matches, keeping them in contention as the Fitzgibbon Cup continues. The team will now wait to see how other results unfold as they push for qualification.
