Dominic McCartan is again a prominent part of a successful Warrenpoint Pierce Purcell Shield Foursomes team that chases a fourth national title later this month.
McCartan figures again
A past captain at the 'Point, he helped the 10-man team beat Castleblayney 3½-1½ in the Ulster final at Lisburn. McCartan stepped down from playing to become team manager when the Purcell side reached the 1999 All-Ireland finals at Royal Portrush.
McCartan is also the link with the club's glorious golfing history at this level, All-Ireland wins in 1981, 1983 and 1987. Another blast from that title-winning past is also back, Pat Lynchehaun. The other members of the team, captained by Gerry Sands, are: Gerry Robertson, Hudson McGuffin, Michael Small, Pat Taylor, Johnny Hughes, Noel Devine, Pat Ryan, Leo McCabe,
Warrenpoint join Greenisland (Jimmy Bruen), Banbridge (Barton Shield), Castlerock (Junior Cup) and Malone as Ulster's representatives in the Bulmers All-Ireland Cup and Shield finals at Lisburn on September 11th-13th.
Island honours Kane
The memory of Peter Kane was honoured at The Island Golf Club last week when a portrait was unveiled in memory of one of club's esteemed members who passed away earlier in the year.
Peter, affectionately known as "Peenie" to his friends, joined The Island back in 1952 and dedicated his life to the club. A staunch supporter of the Senior Cup, all his hard work with that particular team was to come to fruition in 1967 when they reached the All-Ireland final at Rosses Point, where they had lost previously. Having beaten all in Leinster they then went on to beat Galway in the semi-finals, before accounting for Clandeboye in the final.
Kane himself was selected to represent Leinster at 45 years of age. He also continued to be highly involved with the senior team, while he also gave a lot of his time to advising and coaching the women members and the junior members at The Island.
The club have also produced a four-page dedication booklet with contributions from club historian Bill O'D Murphy as well as former friends, team-mates and officers of the club.
East Cork pair victorious
Mary Walsh and Tara McCarthy are the new Kellogg's Nutri-Grain champions. The east Cork pair shot a fine 45 points in last week's finals at Druids Glen.
Taking second place, with 43 points and representing Newcastlewest GC in Limerick were Martina McAuliffe and Kay Cussen, with third place going to the Co Monaghan team from Mannan Castle Golf Club, Gill Rouiller and Sadie Larkin, who came in on 41 points.
Kildare to push Dublin
Ten men's and six women's teams will contest the Pitch and Putt Inter-County Championships, at Ryston Pitch and Putt Club, Newbridge, Co Kildare next weekend - the women on Saturday afternoon and the men on Sunday (12.30).
In the women's championship, holders Dublin will be trying to maintain a grip on the title they won for the 17th time at Seapoint last year. The biggest threat to Dublin is likely to come from the home county, who defeated their near neighbours in the recent Leinster Inter-County championship.
National Ladies' Strokeplay champion Geraldine Ward lines up for Dublin alongside Peggy Campbell, Sheelagh Elmes, Stella Sheridan and Ann Maloney. Kildare are represented by the same team as last year.
Louth defend the Anchor Cup for men on Sunday after edging out Cork at Seapoint a year ago. Louth were superb in the Leinster Inter-County at St Patrick's last month. A repeat of that form by players such as Ivor Flanagan, Ian Donnelly and Mark Millar, could see Louth home again.
Taylor cuts a dash
North Co Dublin was the place for low scores in recent weeks, particularly at Malahide and neighbouring The Island.
Alison Taylor shot 41 points off a four handicap on the opening day of Philomena Moore's captain's prize at Malahide and followed with a 33 to lift the prize; and a week later she shot 44 points to win Michael Lenihan's President's prize which has reduced her handicap to three.
Meanwhile, across the estuary at The Island, Sinéad Duffy was a runaway nett winner in the women's club championship. Duffy shot a 61 on the first day off a 31 handicap and added a 73 to be a comfortable winner and gain a new handicap of 25. Miriam Gartland won the women's championship (a gross competition) with 169 from Geraldine Ryan.
Michael Carwood Trophy
Greystones in Co Wicklow was the venue last Monday for the inaugural playing of the Michael Carwood Memorial Trophy between the Dublin Journalists and the Press, Radio & Television golf societies.
The competition saw teams of 12 with the best eight score cards to count and victory was secured by the host society, the DJs, who won 275-252.
The event - in memory of the late sports journalist and golf writer with The Irish Times, amongst others - will be played on an annual basis at Greystones with each society hosting it in turn.
The trophy itself is a replica of the British Open Claret Jug. Michael Carwood was a former captain, president and secretary of the PRTV and was captain of the DJs at the time of his untimely death in October 2002.
Rare double for Barry
A rare double was secured at the Munster Press golf outing to Lee Valley at the weekend. Having won Captain Mal Keaveney's Prize at Castleisland earlier in the summer, John Barry, sports editor of the Kerryman, playing off a handicap of 13, took his second major trophy of the season when he captured Joe McCarthy's President's Prize with a fine score of 38 points at Lee Valley.
It has been a good few months for Barry as in June he featured on the Munster side that clinched the OBC Interprovincial Journalists Championship in Adare, while his two wins with the society sees him well out in front in the golfer of the year competition.
Rohan left-hander king
To win a national title once in your golfing career is no mean achievement, but to do so three times well that deserves credit indeed. That is exactly what Seamus Rohan, a four-handicapper from Naas, did recently when he was winner of the gross prize and the Bob Charles Trophy at the 12th Left Handers Championship at Athlone.
With 33 points, Rohan was victor for the third time, having previously won in Mount Juliet and Rathsallagh. He had a three-point cushion over a group of four others. In the nett competition for the National Trophy , the winner was 9-handicapper from Moate, Seamus Dolan, who shot 39 points to pip Michael Sands (12, Warrenpoint) and John Sheedy, an 11 handicapper from Castlewarden, both of whom also had 39 points. The winner of the Martin Quinlan Trophy (best senior) was Brendan Usher (17) from Forrest Little with 38 points.
