Tramore set for third Barton Shield success

THE tail-end of Hurricane Katia has made the practice rounds for the Chartis Irish Cups and Shields finals at Castlerock, Co Derry over the past few days more a test of stamina than skill, although it is confidently expected calm will have been restored when the festival gets under way today with the semi-finals of both the Barton Shield and Irish Junior Cup.

Tramore, winners of the Barton Shield, the country’s inter-club foursomes championship, at Killarney in 1992 and Co Sligo in ‘94, look a good bet for a third win in the event. Their line-up of Declan King and Chris Butler and Alan Thomas and David Kiely did well to come through Munster, where they edged out Limerick by one hole in the provincial semi-final before turning in an even more convincing performance in disposing of Bandon by seven holes.

Their semi-final rivals today are Connacht champions Athenry, who have travelled north with their sights set on an unlikely double in the Barton and Pierce Purcell Shields. Their quartet of Mark King and Brian O’Reilly and Michael Lane and David Byrne demonstrated their potential in defeating a very strong Co Sligo side by 4 holes in the western decider.