Kerry’s long reign as National U16 Inter-County champions in Pitch & Putt unfortunately came to an end last Sunday in Bagenalstown in Carlow as for the first time since 2017, Kerry did not win the Tommy Murphy Cup for the Inter-County event.
A team from the county had won the previous five stagings of the event going back to 2018 but despite the best efforts of the ‘Gold’ and ‘Green’ teams on the day in the South East, they fell short in their bid to make it a sixth straight success. The ‘Gold’ team of Aodhan O’Halloran, Fionn McMonagle, Thomas Keane and Mason Sheehy Elston finished on +17 for the tournament, 33 shots off the winning score of -16 from hosts Carlow. The ‘Gold’ team finished seventh overall in the final standings as the ‘Green’ team of Tommy Daly, Diarmuid Lyons, Thomas O’Sullivan and Fionn O’Callaghan finished further down the field.
In the Singles Fionn McMonagle was best of the Kerry contingent over 36 holes with level par, eight off the winnig score posted by Jason Kelly from the host club. Despite our disappointment at the final outcome, we are proud as a county of Kerry’s run at this level over the last seven years. Indeed, for only the first time since 2016 the county is neither Munster or National Champions in the grade. It is also incredibly the first time since 2015 that a Kerry team did not medal in the National event. We all hope the players will learn from the experience into the future as we thank both Derry McCarthy and Phil Daly for looking after the two teams last weekend. A word of thanks again to Sewells Pharmacy for their continued support of the teams again this year.
Closer to home the Listowel Scratch Cups events took place over Saturday and Sunday last. The Mick Barry Memorial Scotch Foursomes event on Saturday went to a five--hole playoff for the overall title after 54 holes with Tralee combination Jason Cregan & Michael Conway winning from local duo Declan McCarron & Conor Leahy. Sunday’s newly named Kevin McCarron and John Joe Kenny Memorial Scratch Cup event saw Tralee’s Jamie Blake win for the second consecutive week from club-mate Gavin Carroll by a single stroke with Jason Cregan third. Jamie shot 20 under par in winning as the Intermediate event was won by Deerpark’s Connie O’Sullivan Jnr on 11 under par.
Junior success went to Paul Hayes from the local club on two under par, one ahead of Noel Lee on one under as Eileen McCarthy won the Ladies Gross prize on four over par. This weekend it is the turn of the adults to put on the county colours as the three Mens teams and the Ladies Nett side head to Ardnacrusha in Co Clare for the Munster Inter-Counties. Kerry are defending champions in three of the five events following last year’s staging in Tralee as the Junior Mens team and Ladies Nett sides defend the county’s titles in these events on Saturday.
Sunday is the turn of the Intermediate (defending champions) and Senior Mens sides as hopes are high for further strong performances again this year from the Kerry teams. The County Board wishes all four sides the very best of luck in Ardnacrusha this weekend.
Pictures
The Kerry U16 'Gold' team of Thomas Keane, Aodhan O'Halloran (Capt), Fionn McMonagle and Mason Sheehy Elston who represented the county in the National U16 Inter-County Pitch & Putt Championships in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow last Sunday.
The Kerry U16 'Green' team of Tommy Daly (Capt), Thomas O'Sullivan, Diarmuid Lyons and Fionn O'Callaghan who represented the county in the National U16 Inter-County Pitch & Putt Championships in Bagenalstown, Co Carlow last Sunday.
