Christy Roche is the hero for Cill Dara

When you’ve ridden Classic winners you would think you had reached the peak of sporting glory but when former jockey Christy Roche sank the winning putt to win an All-Ireland title for his golf club he experienced another level of satisfaction.

Roche, 66, secured a first green pennant for Cill Dara on Saturday as he clinched the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield by holding his nerve at the 19th hole as he and foursomes partner Pat Hopkins sealed a 3-2 triumph over Athenry at Carton House.

“It’s very, very difficult to compare (racing success with Saturday’s victory),” Roche said. “With the racing, it’s your livelihood, it’s your business. Today this was a sporting thing, and it’s probably more pressure because you’re doing it for our members. It means so much.”