Century of pain over as Cahill’s Mitchelstown finally taste glory

MITCHELSTOWN yesterday ended 101 years of disappointment and frustration when they won the Chartis Irish Junior Cup with a decisive 4-1 victory over Lurgan at Castlerock.

It was a magnificent achievement by the north Cork club but it was a disappointing day for Tramore, who staged a thrilling recovery in the final of the Barton Shield against Warrenpoint only to be eventually pipped by one hole.

The year has been a personal triumph for Mitchelstown’s John Cahill, who went through the eight matches unbeaten, winning seven, and demonstrating the short game expertise that enabled him to capture four All-Ireland Pitch and Putt titles. His clash yesterday with Lurgan’s Laurence McGrady was desperately close all the way before Cahill edged ahead with a birdie at the 17th and retained the advantage at the last.