Kilcullen players pitch for Kildare
The All Ireland Matchplay Championships took place the bank holiday weekend gone at the Parteen pitch and putt club in County Clare, writes Darren Keogh. Kildare had 11 representatives at the championships (6 gents and 5 ladies).
First out Saturday morning was 1994 champion Derek Courtney of St Bridget's. Derek played local man Anthony Flynn but was never in any danger, running out an easy winner. Next for Kildare was the battle of club mates Ian Dillon and Frank Ryan, both of the St Bridget's club in Kilcullen. Ian prevailed in what was a very tight match, winning at the 36th hole.
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| Marian and Tara. |
The second session of the gents followed the ladies, with Joe Ronan of McDonagh beating Paul O'Brien of Lakeside in Templemore. Sean Kearney of Ryston won his match with plenty in hand, while John Delaney of St Bridget's couldn't keep pace with 2-time champion Mark Millar, going down 9&8.
Sunday morning saw Derek Courtney advance to the last 16 by beating Dean Grannel of the St Patricks club in Enniscorthy. Ian Dillon was a last hole loser to Jason O'Brien of Deerpark. Joe Ronan also made the last 16 defeating Ronan Callanan from Cork. While Sean Kearney knocked out former champion Darren O'Reilly with an outrageous chip in at the last to book his place in the last 16.
Tara Dillon kept the good Kildare results coming when she defeated defending champion and 9-time winner Geraldine Ward of Portmarnock 2&1. Chrissie and Marian Byrne advanced with ease to the quarter-finals where they would play each other. Mairead O'Toole of Poulaphouca had an excellent victory over Martha O'Brien of Lakeside to give Kildare four ladies in the quarter finals.
The afternoon games saw Derek Courtney book his place in the quarter-finals when victorious over Tommy Hanley in a tight affair. Joe Ronan's championship came to an end when going down 5&4 to eventual finalist Damien Fleming of Deerpark. Sean Kearney also bowed out by the same scoreline to Ian Farrelly of Bellewstown.
The all-Kildare quarter final between Marian and Chrissie Byrne went all the way to the 37th and first extra hole with Marian just edging through. It was very unfortunate for the girls to meet so early in the competition. Tara Dillon was involved in yet another titanic battle, needing two extra holes to defeat Sheelagh Elmes of Portmarnock. While Mairead O'Toole's championship came to an end when she was comprehensively beaten by Breda Lonergan of Tipperary Hills.
The evening games in the gents section saw Kildare's last remaining competitor Derek Courtney exit the championship when going down 3&2 to eventual winner John Walsh of the Collins club in Cork.
Monday morning and the ladies championship was now at the semi final stage. With Tara Dillon and Marian Byrne on opposite sides of the draw we had the possibility of an all-Kildare final. Marian was in control of her match early on and when 4 up with 8 holes to play looked a certain finaliSt
Unfortunately, no one had told her opponent Breda Lonergan this and she produced a stunning last 8 holes to pip Marian at the 36th and final hole. No shame in defeat for Marian, it was another great performance in what has been a very successful season to date.
Tara was up against Margaret Hogan of Tullamore in her semi-final. Incredibly this was Margaret's 20th semi final appearance, having been a finalist on 9 occasions. It was a very tight match with never more than a couple holes in it either way. Tara edged ahead late on and holed a great putt from off the green on the 16th to win 3&2, reaching her 3rd final having won the competition back in 2008 at the Glenville club in Tallaght.
Monday afternoon and the ladies final is under way. Tara is seeking her 2nd title while Breda Lonergan of Tipperary Hills is in pursuit of her firSt Interestingly Breda's only National title success was the strokeplay back in 1987 at the Athgarvan club on the Curragh. The final was a real nip and tuck affair with never more than 1 or 2 holes in it. Breda chipped in at the 33rd hole to take a 1 up advantage. She missed a short putt to go 2 up at the 34th meaning that when Tara got a great par at the difficult 17th hole they were all square again going up the laSt Tara got a good par at the last from off the right hand side of the green, leaving Breda a putt to win the championship. Her putt just missed the hole on the left hand side meaning we would go to sudden death, extra holes. Both ladies were out the back of the 1st hole, they both chipped up to about four feet, Breda holed out first leaving Tara with a putt to stay in the match, Agonisingly Tara's putt missed the hole on the left hand side handing Breda her 1st matchplay title.
The men's event was won by John Walsh of Collins when he defeated Damien Fleming of Deerpark 4&3.
Well done to all the Kildare players who played the weekend and hard luck to Tara!! Hope to see you all at Ryston Scratch Cup on Sunday.
