This weekend in Pitch & Putt sees the Munster Matchplay Finals take place at both the Douglas and Raffeen Creek clubs in Cork with plenty of Kerry interest in all grades.
The Senior Mens event sees six Kerry players in action highlighted by Jason Cregan’s bid for a third straight title in the Senior Mens competition. Last year of course he defeated Deerpark’s Damien Fleming in the first ever all Kerry final in the competition. However, following last week’s draw it can’t be a repeat between both men as they are in the top half of the draw and would be scheduled to meet in the semi-finals if they both win through to that stage.
Jason has a tricky all-club affair to negotiate first in the event as he faces club-mate and recent County Matchplay runner-up Darren Goodall in one of two all Kerry affairs in the First Round. The other is between Tralee’s Mike Conway and Castleisland’s James Dignan as Damien Fleming faces one of his Irish World Cup winning team-mates from last October in Kieran Earls from Limerick. Jason O’Regan is the only Kerry player in the bottom half of the draw as he plays last year’s National Senior Mens Matchplay runner-up in DJ Lynch from Tipperary Hills.
In the Intermediate grade two Kerry players will find themselves playing against players from the St Stephens club in Cork. Mark O’Regan from Tralee will face Gerard Hogan while Listowel’s Bobby McCarron will play Darren Temple. County Intermediate Matchplay winner Mark Lucey meanwhile will face Noel Coonan from the Riverdale club in Nenagh. The Junior Mens grade has four Kerry participants meanwhile both Tralee and both Deerpark players in the same half of the draw.
Both Noel Lee and Reece Sugrue from Tralee face Bishopstown from Cork opposition in Ian McCarthy and Colm O’Connor respectively. County Junior Matchplay winner Mark O’Shea faces Cian McCarthy from Rocklodge in the bottom half of the draw while his Deerpark club-mate Paddy Murphy faces Paul Walsh from Collins in the same section.
The draw for the Ladies event will be made closer to the weekend as we wish all players taking part in the event along with the Kerry Secondary Schools Teams taking part in the Munster Secondary Schools event in Tipp Hills on Friday the very best of luck.
