Mourne enjoy rare treble over local rivals Ardglass

Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

30/05/23

Mourne Golf Club enjoyed a great run on the team front recently as they got the better of their friends and local rivals Ardglass Golf Club in the respective Junior Cup, Fred Daly and Senior Cowdy inter club competitions.

Most recent was John Murphy’s Junior Cup side, who despite losing several players since last season’s run to the Ulster final, came out all guns blazing in their opening encounter of the 2023 campaign.

‘Pep’ Murphy set his younger brother Peter, Michael McLaughlin and Callum Morgan out in the home matches on the Championship Links at Royal County Down, while Patrick McNiff and Greg Smyth travelled to Ardglass.

Despite some stiff opposition that required overcoming early deficits, Murphy’s charges where up to the task and ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. There was an outside chance of the whitewash, but Smyth was narrowly defeated on the 18^th at Ardglass.

Next up for Murphy and his side are Belfast side Belvoir Park on June 18.

Mourne’s win over Ardglass in the Juvenile Fred Daly competition was arguably even more impressive as they secured four thumping wins while James Rodgers was one up in his match when called in.

Paddy Curran is the Mourne Juvenile Convenor (plus club Vice-Captain), and he was immensely proud of his team’s efforts. “Every one of the lads played their hearts out, it was a great result for Mourne,” said Curran.

Matthew Murphy and Sean O’Neill were runaway 8&6 winners in Ardglass with Rodgers called in, while Ryan Thornton and Aaron O’Boyle were 5&3 and 5&4 winners respectively on the Annesley Links in Newcastle.

The previous week Adrian O’Hare’s side denied Ardglass in the Senior Cowdy. With a strong lead from the first leg at home, O’Hare sent Conor Toner, Matt Davey, Patrick McNiff, Eoghan Simons and Jack Keenan to Ardglass for the return leg and managed to get the job done with decisive performances from Tomer and Simons.

Elsewhere, Eddie O’Hare’s Rossmore Cup side secured a 2-2 result away from home at Mannan Castle, before rubberstamping their passage into the next round by winning all four matches in the home leg.

Mourne’s Ulster Cup and Barton Shield teams both lost their respective matches against Portadown and Tandragee as their 2023 campaigns came to an end.

On the home front, the club competitions have been coming thick and fast. Niall Doran returned to top form to take the Mourne Trophy with a winning tally of 39 points. The scratch golfer birdied three of the last four holes (five in all) in a round of two under 69 to win by one from the chasing pack of Colm Kearney, Liam Cunningham and Brendan Rodgers.

The May Medal may have come and gone but special mention must go to Mourne Golf Club Captain Gareth O’Malley, who despite a packed diary in 2023, took time out to let his clubs do the talking. O’Malley won the May Medal with a sensational score of five under 66 nett, three clear of his closest rival Aidan Small (69) in second with John McDonald (70) third.

O’Malley’s social scene is so busy he has arranged a season ticket with the local dry cleaners to get his many suits turned in time for the next function!

Speaking of which, the social team at Mourne is running a special barbecue for members and their guests this Saturday (Jun 3) to tie in with the FA Cup final, which kicks off at 3pm. See notices at the clubhouse for further details.

(pics courtesy Danny Hillen)

-ENDS

Adrian O’Hare (left) representing the Junior Cup players at home along with Mourne Club Captain Gareth Malley (centre)  (Photo: Danny Hillen)

Eddie O’Hare (far right) with this Rossmore Cup side in the home leg at Newcastle, including Club Captain and playing member Gareth Malley (centre) (Photo: Danny Hillen)