Castletroy chasing golden double

CASTLETROY and Bandon qualified for the national semi-finals of the Bulmers Barton Shield and Irish Junior Cup at Shannon GC on September 16-18.

But torrential rain yesterday caused the postponement of the Senior Cup semi-finals involving Tramore and Cork and Killarney and Castletroy and a decision on when they will be played has yet to be made.

It was a pity the weather should have been such a spoilsport, especially for the competing teams and the host club.

Castletroy will now be seeking a notable double as a result of its Barton Shield victory on Saturday.

John Kavanagh, a seasoned campaigner at this level, was crucial to its cause as he and Eamonn Hough accounted for Ballybunion's Hannes Boch and J.D. Guiney in the semi-finals and finished four ahead of Tramore's Clancy Bowe and Michael Burns in the decider.

Tramore's hopes of a provincial treble went up in smoke as they were well beaten by Bandon in the Junior Cup semi-final.

Brian O'Donovan, Trevor O'Donoghue and Pat McCarthy all won at the 16th for Bandon and the other two matches were called in. Tralee joined Bandon in the decider when they accounted for Dromoland Castle, newcomers to this level of competition, in a cliffhanger.

Cian O'Brien won on the 18th for Dromoland against James O'Shea and Mark Reynolds got home on the 15th for the Co Clare side against Jamie Field. The crucial contest was that in which Fergal O'Sullivan pipped Brian Sheedy on the 18th as Brian and David Hennebery also came through for Tralee in the fourth and fifth matches against Ian Colleran and Adrian Glynn.

O'Donovan gave Bandon another solid start in the final when he defeated Fergal O'Sullivan by 3 and 1 while McCarthy also came up trumps in the anchor match against David Hennebery.

Bandon's third point duly came from Billy O'Boyle who triumphed on the final green against Jamie Field.

Bulmers Irish Senior Cup semi-finals, Tramore v Cork and Killarney v Castletroy, were postponed due to weather conditions.

Barton Shield, Munster semi-finals: Castletroy bt Ballybunion 2 holes (Castletroy names first): J. Kavanagh and E. Hough bt H. Boch and J.D. Guiney 3 holes; S. Moloney and C. Daly v P. Sheehan and J. Fitzelle called in.

Tramore bt Muskerry 3 holes: C. Bowe and M. Burns bt R. Twomey and D. Daly 3 holes; J. Mitchell and P. Power v N. Turner and D. Twomey called in. Final.

Final: Castletroy bt Tramore 2 holes - Kavanagh and Hough bt Bowe and Burns 4 holes; Moloney and Daly lost to Mitchell and Power 2 holes.

Irish Junior Cup, Munster semi-finals: Tralee bt Dromoland Castle 3-2 (Tralee names first): F. O'Sullivan bt B. Sheedy 1 hole; J. O'Shea lost to C. O'Brien 1 hole; J. Field lost to M. Reynolds 4 and 3; B. Hennebery bt I. Colleran 3 and 2; D. Hennebery bt A. Glynn 4 and 3.

Bandon bt Tramore 4-1: (Bandon names first): B. O'Donovan bt J. Forristal 3 and 2; T. O'Donoghue bt I St. John 3 and 2; W. O'Boyle and D. Mitchell called in; A. O'Donovan and D. Linehan called in; P. McCarthy bt M. Crowley 3 and 2.

Final: Bandon bt Tralee 3-2 O' Donovan bt O'Sullivan 3 and 1; O'Donoghue lost to D. Lyne 5 and 4; W. O'Boyle bt Field 1 hole; J.J. Riordan lost to R. Rafferty 2 and 1; McCarthy bt D. Hennebery 3 and 2.