After four months of matches the FBD-sponsored Barton Cup 2001 has reached the final stage, with Kilkenny and Vartry Lakes meeting in the decider on Saturday. The first leg will be in Kilkenny followed by the second leg in Vartry Lakes on September 8th.
This is a battle of the old and the new, with Kilkenny, winners in 1953, 1966 and 1977 taking on a club who are just four years old. However, the members of the Vartry Lakes team come with a vast array of experience. Former junior soccer international Graham Smith has seen Barton Cup duty with Ballinascorney and Killiney, and Michael Devlin likewise with Woodbrook.
Four times Irish Artisan champion Martin Smyth is also well accustomed to finals while also representing Delgany and Greystones, David "Ronnie" Briggs has played with Bray and Gary Greene figured in four Artisan matchplays.
Vartry Lakes' path to the final has witnessed some memorable moments, none more so than the heroics and a stroke of luck of Darren Murray in the semi-final against Beaverstown. Murray's second shot to the last was heading out of bounds when it struck a stake, ended up on the green, where Murray holed the putt for a vital win. Other members of the Varty team include Anto Smyth, Alan Horan, club president Walter Townson, Joe McDonald, the owner of the course, and Dermot Browne.
Kilkenny will however, be seeking their fourth win over Vartry Lakes this year as they were already successful in the Jimmy Bruen, Junior Cup and Senior Cup. And it is one of that Senior Cup team and three times Irish Close champion Eddie Power who will lead the Kilkenny team.
Links with the '77 team include Sean O'Neill who is now secretary/manager at Kilkenny, honorary treasurer is Dave de Loughrey, Jackie Lowry was club captain in 1977 and is now the incoming president, while Tom Deegan snr is father of Kilkenny manager Ollie Deegan.
McKenna on seniors duty
Mary McKenna will return to international duty when she takes her place on the Irish Senior Ladies' Team for the European Team Championship at GCC Schonenberg, Switzerland from September 3rd-7th.
McKenna will be joined on the Irish team by Jane Allen (Royal Portrush), Rhona Fanagan (Milltown), Valerie Hassett (Ennis) and Mary Madden (Ballinasloe). The team captain is Mary Anderson from Woodbrook, while the team manager is Theresa Morgan from Ardee.
Edenderry do it again
Edenderry, leading 5-4 after the first leg, won the Provincial Towns Cup when they beat Callan 111/2-61/2 after the second leg at Edenderry.
However, it was Callan who struck first with Kieran Wall beating John Sheehan 2 and 1 in the top match to bring the match to 5-5 but the home side rattled off five wins from Greg Carey, Kieran McDonnell, Tommy Breen, Noel Duigenan and Joe Abbott to secure their second successive win.
Meanwhile, Clontarf will take an 8-1 lead to Greystones after the first leg of the Metropolitan Cup final at Clontarf. Liam Moulton was Greystones only winner in the bottom match after two matches were decided on tie holes.
Clontarf's Brendan Foy beat Alan O'Sullivan on the 19th and Michael Carroll also won on the first tie hole against Sean Hynes. Clontarf's other winners were Paraic Connolly, Terry Crawford, Donal Heron, Stephen Kavanagh, Eamonn O'Dulainn and John Synnott.
Newport's a record-breaker
Howth's Lady Vice-Captain Fiona Newport is already having yet another year to remember. But last Wednesday she managed to write herself into the club's record books.
Playing off a handicap of four, she broke the course record with a gross 68 (nett 64) on a course with a SSS of 72. Her fantastic round included five birdies and 12 pars.
This is just the latest success for Newport, as already this season she has won the best gross prize in several events, as well as qualifying for the final of the Club Cup and the Ria Kenny Finals, while back in June she was a very popular winner of the Lady Captain's Prize.
This follows on last season's equally impressive exploits where Fiona knocked her handicap down from six to four and won the 2000 Golfer of the Year title.
Three in a row for Eibhlin
You may remember last Tuesday we highlighted the double success of Eibhlin Ni Sheaghdha at Ceann Sibeal. Well she made it three in a row last week, winning yet another singles competition with a hugely impressive 47 points off her new handicap of 18.
And even though that win saw her handicap further reduced, this time to 15, she still finished in the prizes in the very next club event, taking the gross prize (with 22 points) in Mary Sheehy's Lady President's Prize. Top prize went to Vera Curran, playing off 25 who had 42 points, five points ahead of Nora Joyce (21).
King's handicap plummets
Marita King may well have just joined Roscrea Golf Club this year, but in that short period of time she has managed to knock an incredible eleven shots off her handicap.
King began the year playing off 45, but competing in her very first event, she managed to reduce that by three shots.That was only a taste of things to come. Playing in a pre Lady Captain's Prize for beginners she lost eight shots after bringing in a nett 57.
And she has had no problem playing to her new handicap of 34 as in a recent competition she played to the standard scratch of the day.
Woodbrook Golf Club are holding their Senior Scratch Trophy on Sunday, September 2nd. The 36-hole event has a handicap limit of four. Entries are being taken by phone on 01-2824799 or by fax on 01-2821950.
The Limerick Boys' Open Championship will take place at Newcastlewest Golf Club (Ardagh) on August 28th-30th. The event is open to boys under-19 on January 1st 2001 with a handicap limit of 16. The entry fee is £5 and places on the time sheet can be booked at 069-76500.
