Cleary ends Hackett run to take title

TIPPERARY inter-county player James Cleary (Hillview, Clonmel) stopped the great run by Eddie Hackett (Collins) to win the Men’s Munster Senior Pitch and Putt Strokeplay Championship at Collins yesterday.

Hackett had beaten more illustrious stars like John Walsh (Collins) and Ray Murphy (Templebreedy) to reach the final. The new Munster champion beat Hackett in the final at Collins yesterday after Hackett’s superb putting deserted him.

Trevor Ahern (Collins) won the Munster Strokeplay intermediate title also at Collins yesterday, defeating David Hobbert (Tralee) narrowly after a superb final, also at Collins.

Tony O’Sullivan (Macroom), the outstanding player in the Munster Junior Championship at Ballinlough over the weekend, duly won the junior title, overcoming home player Greg O’Brien 4/2 after an exciting final.

Kerry strokeplay champion Julianne Broderick (Castleisland) won a great battle to defeat Cork inter-county player Linda Murphy (Collins) at the fifth tie-hole, winning the title with a seven-foot birdie at the Ladies Munster Senior Strokeplay at Ballinlough yesterday.

Joan O’Riordan (Collins) beat Pat Murphy (Ranges) to win the Munster Intermediate Championship in the 36-holes final by a 3/2 margin at Ballinlough.

It was a remarkable achievement by the new champion O’Riordan who won the same championship at Woodvale 51 years ago when playing as Miss Joan Dilworth (Rocklodge).

The junior title went to Bridget McCarthy (Bruff). She beat Eileen McCarthy (Collins) in an enjoyable final at Ballinlough.