Galway en fete for national competitions

THE sun shone brightly on the picturesque Galway Golf Club course throughout yesterday during the final practice rounds for the Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields finals beginning at the Salthill venue this morning.

The forecast suggests weather conditions might not be quite as favourable over the next three days but that won’t deter players and supporters alike as they battle to bring a national pennant back to their respective clubs in one of the great week-ends in amateur golf.

The programme gets under way at 8.30 this morning with the semi-finals of the Barton Shield, an event that will be brought to a conclusion this evening.

First into action go hot favourites Clandeboye, who have recruited Irish International Andrew McCormick from nearby Scrabo. They should prove too strong for surprise Leinster qualifiers Mullingar who, however, are confident that they can shock the pundits once again and that the presence in their ranks of Irish International Dr John (Junior) Morris will inspire them.

The other semi-final sees Nenagh, who also upset the apple cart when coming out of Munster, up against lowly rated Ballinasloe. Nenagh look to have the edge and team captain Paul Malone insists they have the ability to bring their first senior pennant to the Beechwood clubhouse. Nenagh have captured the Pierce Purcell Shield on three occasions, as well as winning the Jimmy Bruen Shield and the magnificent rendering of Slievenamons after each of those successes are well remembered.

They could be celebrating this time, too, especially if plus one handicapper and recent Munster debutant Collwyn Martin strikes form.

Martin goes out with Ronan Maher against Mark Staunton and James Barton while, in the other match, David Hunt and Paul Burke are up against Eoin Barton and Dara Kealy. Frank Maher is Nenagh reserve and father of Paul for whom he caddies this morning.

The final of the Barton Shield tees off at 2.30 whereas the climax to both the Purcell Shield and Irish Junior Cup are scheduled for decision to-morrow. The Junior Cup semi-finals are notable for the inclusion in the Co Louth quintet of Ronan Branigan and Shane Gannon, sons respectively of distinguished former Irish Internationals Declan and Mark.

Shane proved a highly impressive winner of the Munster Boys Championship at Tramore and is a key figure in a Co Louth side which is hoping to bring the trophy to Baltray for the first time.

Their semi-final rivals today are Malone from Belfast whose only success was achieved back in 1923.

Killarney have invariably fielded outstanding Junior Cup sides but, for some strange reason, have yet to win the trophy. Their best chance probably came at Clandeboye on a stormy week-end in 1987 when they were pipped at the post by Downpatrick. Their team captain then as now was James Arthur and he has an extra incentive to break the duck in that his son, 17-year-old Jason, is in the side this time and comes up against Portumna’s John Harte in the second semi-final.

Another Killarney teenager, Rory O’Sullivan meets Eamon Dervan while two other members of the side, Brendan O’Toole and George McKenzie Vass, go into battle boasting unbeaten records to date.

Bulmers Barton Shield semi-finals, 8. 30 a.m., Clandeboye v Mullingar, Clandeboye names first, A. McCormick and T. Spence v P. Wallace and D. Morgan; C. Moriarty and J. Caldwell v C. Cunningham and J. Morris. 8. 50, Ballinasloe v Nenagh, Ballinasloe names first, M. Staunton and J. Barton v C. Martin and R. Maher; E. Barton and D. Kealy v D. Hunt and P. Burke. Final, 2. 30 p.m.

Irish Junior Cup semi-finals, 9. 10 a.m., Co Louth v Malone, Co Louth names first. R. Branigan v M. Bell; D. Doggett v B. Brennan; S. Gannon v K. Gilbert; P. McCaffrey v J. Conlon; M. Kierans v J. Gilbert.

10 a.m., Killarney v Portumna, Killarney names first, B. O’Toole v G. Lynch; R. O’Sullivan v E. Dervan; J. Brosnan v P. Quinlan; J. Arthur v J. Harte; G. McKenzie Vass v M. Donohue. Final, Friday 8. 30 a.m.