Nenagh and Douglas survive tough tests to seal provincial titles

ALL the drama and excitement associated with the Bulmers Irish Cups and Shields came very much to the fore at Kenmare Golf Club when Nenagh and Douglas qualified for the national finals of the Jimmy Bruen and Pierce Purcell Shields.

Nenagh, the Irish champions in 1997, captured their third provincial pennant after beating Fota Island in the semi-final and Tramore in the decider of the Bruen. Paddy Heffernan, a co-selector of the team along with Seamus Hogan, admitted they were “very lucky” to get the better of Fota in a thrilling encounter.

Indeed, it seemed set up to be a victory for the Cork side when Nenagh’s Jim Griffin and Michael Corrigan were one down playing the 18th and had to take a penalty drop after driving into trees with the overall match tied at two each. But Griffin then came up with a remarkable recovery shot and when Fota three putted, the match went into extra holes and Nenagh duly got home at the 19th.