Nobody could accuse Derry of taking the easy route to success in winning the Ulster Intercounty title at Castlerock on Sunday. Indeed, the 18th green at the picturesque course overlooking the North Atlantic became the focal point for varying degrees of emotion as Derry went about the successful pursuit of the crown. It wasn't a place for the fainthearted.
Incredibly, all five matches in the final - against Donegal - went to the 18th, before Randall Evans clinched victory for the Derrymen, thanks to a one hole win over Andrew Morris.
And, as if to emphasise the seemingly endless season which even amateurs must face nowadays, one of Derry's heroes - David Jones, who at 17 is considered one of the most special golfing talents in the country - barely had time to savour victory before heading off to Scotland to compete in the Commonwealth championship, starting today, with Rory Leonard and Johnny Foster.
Derry achieved their win the hard way. In the semi-final, in fact, Derry managed to retrieve victory from the jaws of defeat. Twice. Evans performed his first heroics of the day by finally shrugging off Irish youths international Leonard with a birdie at the first sudden death hole. But there was even more drama in the match involving Des Ballentine.
Ballentine was involved in a rare tussle with North of Ireland champion Michael Sinclair, but the issue was decided at the famed "Leg O'Mutton" - the par three fourth which has out-of-bounds left and right - where Sinclair became its latest victim. Jones, who had a 5 and 4 win over Alex Meharg, was Derry's other winner in the semi-final and the only one to avoid a walk up the 18th fairway.
Donegal, meanwhile, caused a mild surprise when beating Antrim 31/2 11/2 in the other semi-final, with former international Enda McMenamin leading the way with a 3 and 2 win in the top match over Colin Lyttle. The final proved to be just as nerve-wracking, even if the final score - 31/2 11/2 - masked the battle somewhat. Jones beat Sean Hegarty in the top match and Ballentine also earned a one hole win over Conor Mallon, while Gavin Higgins halved with Michael McGeady. And Evans had the honour of clinching victory for Derry with a one hole win over Andrew Morris.
Ulster Intercounty Championship (at Castlerock) - Semi-Finals: Derry 3, Down 2 (Derry names first): M Kilgore lost to A McCormick 1 hole; D Ballentine bt M Sinclair at 22nd; G Higgins lost to P Purdy 1 hole; D Jones bt A Meharg 5 and 4; R Evans bt R Leonard at 19th.
Donegal 3 1/2, Antrim 1 1/2 (Donegal names first): E McMenamin bt C Lyttle 3 and 2; S Hegarty bt T Coulter 1 hole; C Mallon bt C Brown 5 and 3; A Morris lost to J McKinstry 4 and 3; M McGeady halved with J Foster. Final: Derry 3 1/2, Donegal 1 1/2 (Derry names first): Jones bt Hegarty 1 hole; Kilgore lost to McMenamin 1 hole; Ballentine bt Mallon 1 hole; Higgins halved with McGeady; Evans bt Morris 1 hole.
Irish internationals Bryan Omelia and Jody Fanagan are unavailable to assist Dublin in their Leinster Intercounty championship quarter-final encounter with Offaly at Portmarnock on Sunday. Omelia is ruled out because of a recurring back injury.
Dublin have called-up Michael Brett, a young Portmarnock two-handicapper who has seen his handicap tumble down from eight in recent months, to the team, which also includes internationals Noel Fox and Mick McGinley. Offaly are led by Leinster interprovincial player Johnny Brady.
The other provincial quarterfinals on Sunday see Wexford take on Kildare (who beat holders Wicklow in the first round) at Wexford Golf Club, while Westmeath play host to Laois at Moate.
The 11 players who steered Ireland to success in the Boys' Home Internationals at Saunton in August will be feted to a day out with a difference later this month.
Because the players went on to participate in the British Boys' Championship immediately after their great team success (and returned home individually as their respective interests in that event finished), there was no official team "homecoming".
So, the GUI has arranged a round of golf at Druids Glen on October 26th, followed by an official dinner. The team were: Mark Campbell, Michael McDermott (Stackstown), David Carroll (Grange), Robin Symes, Michael Hoey, Gary Wardlow (Shandon Park), Graeme McDowell (Rathmore), Mark O'Sullivan (Galway), Colin Moriarty (Athlone), Lee Dalton (Waterford), David Jones (City of Derry).
Former Galway footballer and manager Bosco McDermott demonstrated - yet again - his golfing abilities at the weekend when recording a hole-in-one in a club competition.
McDermott, who was a member of Galway Golf Club's "Dream Team" that captured back-to-back All-Ireland Pierce Purcell Shield titles earlier this decade, hit an eight-iron tee-shot to ace the 150yard second hole at the Galway course on Sunday.
