Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

23/08/2022

There was heartache for Mourne Golf Club’s Junior Cup side who travelled to Warrenpoint searching for a place in the All-Ireland Finals, but ultimately came up just short against a deliberate and determined Cavan side.

John Murphy’s team has been on a tremendous journey all season, and last Sunday was the final act of the Ulster chapter where they took on Cavan at the neutral of Warrenpoint in the Ulster ‘South’ final. Up to this point, there had been miraculous comebacks, steely sudden-death wins, and an all-round team effort from the entire panel.

However, for all the previous endeavours, it came down to one match, five head-to head battles adjacent to the Narrow Water.

In the top match Connor Pimm was in flying form and set his stall out early to be four up through seven holes. From there the now scratch golfer never looked back and set down an early marker with his 4&3 victory.

In the middle match Jack Keenan had a roller-coaster afternoon and despite battling back from three down at one stage he shook hands at the 17th after losing 2&1. In the bottom match Paul Boden, who was the hero for Mourne at Kilkeel in the earlier rounds, had an off day and suffered a heavy defeat.

Patrick McNiff was Mourne’s hero in the semi-finals against Clandeboye and the tall, athletic golfer produced the goods once more by winning his match to level proceedings at 2-2.

It meant the overall outcome came down to Peter Murphy in match two. With his opponent slowing things down all afternoon, they eventually reached the 18th all-square. Unfortunately, Murphy pulled his approach out of bounds from under a tree and went on to narrowly lose by one hole.

Cavan were the winners and Mourne were left to rue what might have been despite a great run to the final. There was great travelling support from Mourne, including the club President Martin Greene and Honorary Secretary Paddy Keenan.

“I can’t fault the guys, they have been brilliant all season,” said captain Murphy afterwards. “They gave it their all. The final could have gone either way, but we will take the positives out of a great run.”

On the club front, the recent Quinn Cup took place on the Championship Course at Royal County Down and Declan Morgan separated himself from the field to win with 41 points. His round contained three birdies at the first, seventh and 12th.

Barry Hillen was best of the chasing pack on 39 points as he edged ahead of James Kelly and Brian O’Neill.

Last Thursday’s stableford competition was won by Eugene Valentine with 36 points on a testing day on the links. Valentine kept his game in check throughout and the highlight came with birdies at the seventh and 12th.

He edged out Stephen Barker (33) in second after the plus two golfer went round in 72 gross with a card containing birdies at the first, sixth, 15th and 16th. Barker denied Daniel Brogan (33) in third, while John Hanna was best of the chasing pack on 32 points, that included, Feargal Rodgers, Noel Crawford and Paul Mullan.

-ENDS

(Pics courtesy Danny Hillen)

Caption for main pic

L-R Mourne GC Honorary Secretary Paddy Keenan, Jack Keenan, Paul Boden, Patrick McNiff, Junior Cup captain John Murphy, Connor Pimm, Greg Smyth, Peter Murphy and club President Martin Greene at Warrenpoint Golf Club