West Waterford starlets work wonders

A WEST WATERFORD team with an average age of 20 is on the threshold of a historic and remarkable break through in the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup at Tullamore.

Although deprived of the services of America-based Irish international Seamus Power, the Dungarvan club yesterday qualified for this morning’s (9am) final against Galway with an impressive victory over Leinster champions Laytown & Bettystown.

While rank outsiders with the bookmakers, West Waterford clearly have a fighting chance considering how well they performed in coming out of Munster before reaching the final for the first time yesterday.

However, Galway obviously have a huge advantage where experience is concerned. Dave Scully, Eddie McCormack and Joe Lyons were members of the side that won the title for the one and only time at Enniscrone in 2006 and Damien Coyne and Damien Glynn were substitutes so they know what it takes to capture the Blue Riband of the Irish club game. They have an average age of 34½ years.

In contrast, Mark Shanahan is the ‘old man’ of the West Waterford side at 27. He got them off to the ideal start yesterday when beating Castletrock player-manager David Mulholland by 6 and 5 and the support from the remainder of the side was nothing short of magnificent in spite of their tender years. Gary Hurley is the ‘baby’ at 16 years followed by Philip Walsh, 18; Philip Spratt, 19, and David Curran, 20.

West Waterford have won the Irish Junior Foursomes in three of the last four years and each of this quartet – as well as Seamus Power – has at least one medal to their credit.

It’s an outstanding vindication of the youth policy adopted by the club that is owned by Pat Spratt, whose grandson Philip is a key member of the side. The extended family was widely represented yesterday while team captain John Carroll and club captain Lanson Kelly also rejoiced in a job very well done.

Left hander Shanahan has been one of the country’s leading amateurs for several years although his representative honours have not extended beyond a few appearances in the Munster jersey. His ball striking was hugely impressive as he took the initiative from the word go against the off-colour David Mulholland, an Irish international in 1988 but of whom not a whole lot has been seen in more recent times due to his responsibilities as a medical doctor. Shanahan turned 3 up, went five in front after 12 and closed the match out on the next green.

West Waterford were always in position to claim the other two points required but it wasn’t quite as easy as it might have seemed. Philip Spratt was 3 up at the turn against the experienced Gordon Forbes and got home at the 17th shortly before Hurley held off a determined challenge from another young golfer, Dan Beattie, to win at the 18th where he hit two cracking shots on to the green.

David Curran was one up against Aaron Kearney after 16 and Philip Walsh two down to Donal Mulholland when they were called with the overall result determined.

If experience is to prove the crucial difference between the teams, then Galway must be strong favourites for another Senior Cup triumph although they were put to the pin of their collar to dispose of Laytown & Bettystown in a desperately tight contest.

Big wins for the hugely impressive Eddie McCormack and Joe Lyons over John McGinn and Padraig Rafferty seemed to signal a comfortable day for Galway but that was far from the case. South of Ireland champion Robbie Cannon came from one down after 14 to beat Dave Scully on the final green to raise L & B hopes and battle was really joined when 17 year-old Stephen Barry held his nerve in style to beat Damien Coyle at the first tie hole.

It still looked good for Galway when Damien Glynn moved into a two hole lead over Russell Durnin with four to play.

However, Glynn lost the 15th and 17th to par figures and the 18th was halved in bogeys. The pressure must have been telling but it hardly seemed to be the case as both men played the par four19th in exemplary fashion. Durnin shaved the hole with a 20 foot putt for a three before Glynn judged his birdie putt from fifteen feet to perfection to see Galway through.