Killarney or County Louth to capture first junior cup title

KILLARNEY and County Louth are two of the biggest and most respected clubs in the country. Both have produced some great players and characters but surprisingly neither has yet captured the Bulmers Irish Junior Cup.

That situation will change today when two teams, boasting a delightful blend of youth and experience, clash in the final at Galway Golf Club.

Neither side had it all their own way in yesterday’s semi-finals, although Co Louth emerged from their clash with Malone without losing a match. They claimed the first three as Ronan Branigan came out on top at the 16th against Maurice Bell before David Doggett and Shane Gannon got through on the final green.

The other two matches were all square when called in, so the issue was a lot tighter than the 4-1 scoreline might indicate.

This is the first time Co Louth have come out of Leinster in the Junior Cup and they have done so with a side that includes Ronan Branigan and Shane Gannon, the sons of two of the country’s finest amateur golfers, Declan Branigan and Mark Gannon.

Shane, winner of this year’s Munster Boys Championship, is only 17 and yet was giving two years to yesterday’s opponent Karl Gilbert, the recently crowned Irish under-15 champion. Young Gilbert’s caddy was his grandfather Rodney while his father Jan was involved in a halved match with Michael Kierans. Gannon, for his part, was watched by his parents and his grandmother Nancy.

Killarney had to endure a few anxious moments before emerging victorious from their semi-final meeting with Portumna. Here again youth was very much to the fore as 17 year-old Jason Arthur, a son of team captain James ‘the Wedge’ Arthur, clinched a crucial point against John Harte. The Killarney youngster played a vital role in helping the side to come out of the Kerry group and never allowed the tension to get to him yesterday.

He was 3 up after 13 and looked to have closed the door firmly on his man when rattling in a putt of at least 40 feet for a birdie at the 14th. However, Harte followed him in from 25 feet to keep his hopes alive. They were emphatically dashed at the next where the Killarney player wrapped it up neatly.

The other Killarney winners were Brendan O’Toole, who came from one down after nine to win at the 17th against Ger Lynch, and George McKenzie Vass who beat Matt Donohoe at the 17th.

Thus O’Toole maintained his 100% record throughout the campaign while Vass has also been unbeaten in the crucial anchor role at number five. And it was he who made sure of the final spot when playing two splendid shots to within 10 feet of the flag at the penultimate hole to see off Donohoe.

James Arthur, who was also team captain when his side last reached the final of the Junior Cup in 1987, has made one change in the Killarney team for the final that leaves the tee first tee at 8.30 this morning.

David O’Donoghue comes in for John Brosnan, while Co Louth captain Jim Tully sticks with the quintet that did the business yesterday.