First-time winners destined for All-Ireland

The Bulmers sponsored GUI Cup and Shield finals at Shannon will be recalled for the breakthrough by several clubs of long standing in the destination of the All-Ireland pennants.

An encouraging situation for others surely, as no fewer than four of the five successful finalists were winning for the first time and the fifth - Sutton - had waited 54 years to regain the Barton Shield, last won in the heyday of the legendary Joe Carr.

Joining the all-time winners’ roll of honour were Lucan (Irish Junior Cup), Ballinrobe (Pierce Purcell Shield), Dundalk (Jimmy Bruen Shield) and Ballyclare (Irish Senior Cup) and a few others, also chasing their first title, came very close indeed.

Ballyclare ended Munster’s remaining interest, Tramore, on Saturday with a 3.5 to 1.5 triumph in the Blue Riband of the series - the Senior Cup. Tramore put up a tremendous show and it was nip and tuck all the way before the Northerners shaded it in the closing stages.

The Munster champions had Mick Burns and his son Derek on the team - a moment of history no doubt - and the former international made a bright start in the top singles with a birdie at the first hole against John Foster who today joins the professional ranks. True to form, the Ballyclare man, a 30 times capped international, hit back quickly with wins at the 4th and 7th only for Burns to regain the lead by taking the 9th and 10th.

Foster levelled again at the difficult 12th and further wins at the 14th, 16th and 17th saw the Antrim player through for his club’s first point.

Win number two came from Simon McConnell, who put the game beyond John Mitchell’s reach with birdies at four of the first seven holes. Although the Tramore man got the margin back to three, the impressive McConnell ended the contest with a delightful chip at the 15th.

In a match of this nature, gaining the all-important third point can be the most difficult task, but Colin Steele answered Ballyclare’s call, recovering from an edgy start to defeat the experienced Peter Power on the 17th green. After an exchange of holes, the 12th was crucial as Steele got up and down from 30 yards at this difficult par three to gain a lead that he never surrendered. The margin went to two at the 15th where Power’s second was blocked out by trees and the end came at the 17th where Steele rolled in a tricky five footer to match the Tramore player’s great par.

There was some consolation for Tramore in the performance of Michael Burns’ son, Derek, who was always in control of his match against Steven Rea and won by 3 and 2. Burns had fallen behind to an eagle at the second but four wins in a row from the 4th paved the way for a most satisfactory result.

As events transpired, he was to be Tramore’s only winner as Clancy Bowe finished level with Robert Forsythe, the pair being called in on the 19th fairway when the overall match had been decided. By his own standards, Bowe struggled at times but he did produce a magnificent birdie when most needed at the testing 17th to square the match.

Dundalk’s first timer in the Jimmy Bruen Shield was achieved at the expense of Kilkeel, the 2000 champions, and the result brought its own disappointment for Paul Higgins who was hoping to add a national golf medal to the Celtic Crosses won with Down’s senior footballers in 1991 and 1994. Higgins and partner Mark Trainor won their own battle by 6/5 but overall team honours were denied when Dundalk won three matches by thrilling one hole margins.