Ulster bid for hat-trickUlster will be bidding for a third title on the trot when they defend the Interprovincial Championship at Co Louth GC, Baltray, starting tomorrow. Led by recently crowned South of Ireland champion Darren Crowe, the champions will, however, be without their two recently selected Walker Cup players, Rory McIlroy and Jonathan Caldwell.
Leinster, ironically, have deprived Ulster of a three-in-a-row on two previous occasions - in 2001 and 2004 - and Frank Gannon's side, with local international Simon Ward in the side, will be hoping for their own hat-trick.
Connacht have four new caps in their side, while Munster, whose last victory was back in 1997, will be hoping Karl Bornemann from Douglas can lead an experienced side to the top again.
CONNACHT:Damien Coyne (Galway), Stephen Healy (Claremorris), Michael Lavelle (The K Club), Joseph Lyons (Galway), Gary McDermott (Co Sligo), Kelan McDonagh (Athlone), Tommy McGowan (Strandhill), Ciarán O'Connor (Athlone), Cathal O'Malley (Westport), David Scully (Galway). Captain: Pat Killeen (Claremorris). Manager: Adrian Wynne (Strandhill).
LEINSTER:Cian Curley (Newlands), Niall Gorey (Lee Valley), Stephen Grant (Birr), Andrew Hogan (Newlands), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Dara Lernihan (Castle), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Neil O'Briain (Royal Dublin), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh), Simon Ward (Co Louth). Captain: Frank Gannon (Co Louth), Manager: Denis Feeney (Malahide).
MUNSTER:Karl Bornemann (Douglas), Clancy Bowe (Tramore), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Stephen Moloney (Castletroy), John Morris (Rosslare), Pat Murray (Limerick), Gary O'Flaherty (Cork), Thomas O'Flynn (Fota Island), Peter O'Keeffe (Douglas), Séamus Power (West Waterford). Captain: John Carroll (Bandon).
ULSTER:Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Conor Doran (Banbridge), Nicky Grant (Knock), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Ciarán McAleavey (Banbridge), Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon), Gareth Shaw (Lurgan), Michael Sinclair (Knock). Captain: John White (Co Armagh).
Fahey finishes strongly
All three categories in the Connacht Close Championship at Westport GC produced tight finishes last week. In the under-13, Niall Fahey from Castlebar stood on the 12th tee 10 over, but played the last seven holes in level par to pip Co Sligo's Seán Flanagan and fellow Castlebar clubman Michael Flynn by one shot after both finished on 84.
In the under-15, Darragh O'Sullivan fulfilled a year of promise when he produced a four-over-par 77 to win by one from Diarmuid Finnegan (Ballyhaunis), with the 2006 winner, David Byrne from Athenry, back in third on 81.
The under-17 section was also exciting, with just three shots covering the top six players. The title, however, went to Galway's Donnacha Finn with an excellent three-over-par 76, which was matched by Declan Loftus from Swinford, but Finn had the better last six. Third spot went to the fast-improving Dean McGowan (Co Sligo).
Festival of fun
Nine clubs will be represented in this year's Connacht finals of the Bulmers Cup and Shields at Co Sligo next weekend. Of the five finals, only Galway GC will contest two when they appear in the Senior Cup and Barton Shield deciders.
It is sure to be a festival atmosphere at Rosses Point for the finals weekend and play gets under way on Saturday at 10am with the Barton Shield final.
The full programme for the two days is: Saturday, August 18th: 10am: Barton Shield final: Athlone v Galway. 10.30: Junior Cup final: Castlebar v Gort. 11.30: Pierce Purcell final: Bearna v Loughrea. Sunday, August 19th: 10am: Senior Cup final: Galway v Co Sligo, 11am: Jimmy Bruen final: Tuam v Carrick-on-Shannon.
McIlroy honoured
There was further recognition for Ireland's Rory McIlroy when Ballyliffin club captain Pat Kelly presented honorary life membership to McIlroy in light of his outstanding contribution to Irish golf.
Meanwhile, local men dominated the 2007 Ballyliffin Scratch Cup last week. Played on the Glashedy Links from the back tees, the event produced some excellent golf in very difficult conditions, particularly in the afternoon.
Brendan Devlin (1) won the event with a superb two over par, just pipping Alan Doherty (three over) and Seán Doherty (four over). Defending champion Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint) played alongside an injured McIlroy, but it was a day for the local men.
History for McGowan
Darragh McGowan created a bit of history recently in Eileen Boyce's Lady Captain's Prize at Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club as she became the first to claim back-to-back victories in the competition at the Co Donegal club. Playing off a three handicap last year, she claimed the prize and broke the course record as well on the final day with a 63 nett.
This time it was a fabulous 66 nett on the second day which clinched the prize. In fact it was a day of doubles at the club. Mandy Coyne, sister-in-law of the lady captain, achieved something rare as she won two gross prizes on the same day. She played in the Lady Captain's prize at Newtownstewart in the morning and in Ballybofey and Stranorlar in the afternoon and won both.
Victory for McGowan was a close run thing. She arrived at the 17th tee with a final 64 nett in mind, but proceeded to bogey both the 17th and 18th and thought she had thrown it away even though her final score was a magnificent 66 (aggregate 137), while Coyne carded a marvellous 67 (138). Meanwhile, right behind, and in the last three, Anne McGranaghan had held her nerve and came in with another fine score of 69, giving her an aggregate also of 137, with McGowan winning on countback.
Castlewarden win
Fifty clubs from around Dublin started out in the fourth staging of the McGinley Trophy, the semi-finals and finals of which were staged in Powerscourt last week.
The first semi-final was between Slade Valley's Seán Noonan and James Keeley and Castlewarden GC, represented by Dominick Kinsella and Ciarán Macklin, with the Castlewarden pairing winning a keenly contested match on the 18th. In the second semi-final, Powerscourt's Tony Maher and Alan McLean beat the Charlesland duo of Willie Griffin and his son Neal 2 and 1.
In the final, the Castlewarden pair went on to beat the fancied local pair 3 and 2. The winners received silver replicas of the McGinley Trophy, which was sponsored by Mercury Engineering. Although Paul McGinley wasn't present due to his participation in the US PGA Championship in Tulsa, his sister Suzanne was on hand to present the trophies.
Cream of the crop
The cream of Irish women's talent from across the Eastern District will this week begin battling it out for a place in the District Finals of the second national AA Insurance Ladies Championships. An intense four days of play starts this Sunday, with the singles Intermediate, Challenge, Junior and Minor Cup semi-finals.
These will be followed a week later by the Junior and Senior Foursomes semi-finals, taking place on the 26th August.
The Eastern District regional finals conclude with the finals for all six competitions taking place on September 8th and 9th. Hazel Grove, Craddockstown and Corrstown will be evenly matched, each hoping for success in two semi-final competitions, while Mannan Castle will be the club most hopeful of returning with a trophy for the cabinet, competing in three of the six semi-final competitions.
Fixtures for the semi-finals in the Eastern District:Singles: Sunday, August 19th: At Glen of the Downs - semi-final one: 1.30pm - Junior Cup: Milltown v Elm Park; 2.15pm - Intermediate Cup: The Island v Dublin City; 3pm - Minor Cup: Corrstown v Craddockstown; 3.45pm - Challenge Cup: The K Club v Mannan Castle. At Balbriggan - Semi-final two: 1.30pm - Junior Cup: Corrstown v Malahide; 2.15pm - Intermediate Cup: Mannan Castle v Kilcoole; 3pm - Minor Cup: Navan v Dun Laoghaire; 3.45pm - Challenge Cup: Hazel Grove v Forrest Little.
