Murray continues his march on the South at Lahinch

A definite whiff of cordite left behind by the announcement of the Irish team for next month’s Home Internationals before a ball was struck in the South of Ireland, combined with electrical storms that caused a suspension of play in both of the opening two rounds, injected a considerable deal of spice into the action at Lahinch over the past two days.

A tradition up to a short few years ago that the Irish team would not be chosen until after the ‘South’ has become a thing of the past and several players justified in believing they had a chance of making the side were understandably annoyed that apart from challenging for the title, they had little to play for otherwise.

Lahinch members did little to hide their disappointment at the handling of the matter and it will be interesting to see if their views are taken into consideration when the GUI make an investigation of a schedule that has now become something of a mess.

Defending champion Pat Murray won five of his six matches including all three singles in last week’s Interprovincials and left Lee Valley for Lahinch on Thursday night believing he still had a chance of a recall to the Irish team. One can imagine his dismay on discovering on Friday morning the 11 names were already posted on the GUI website and he wasn’t one of them.

“Of course I was surprised and disappointed at the development,” said Murray. “From my perspective, it’s hard to see why they couldn’t have waited another three or four days. I have always planned my schedule around the Home Internationals and after a good Interpros felt another good run in the South might get me in. But there’s no point in arguing about it, we’ve just got to get on with it, there’s always next year.”

Murray, who celebrated his 42nd birthday last week, backed up his words with actions in defeating the promising young Castle golfer Jack Walsh on the 15th. He hit some really spectacular shots, like the five iron to eight feet at the difficult 3rd for a birdie and a superb tee shot to the 13th that finished a foot from the flag for a conceded eagle.

2009 champion Robbie Cannon was another who arrived in Lahinch angered by the announcement of the side, all the more so as he had again proven his quality when beating a star studded field in the Irish Amateur Open earlier this year. He came up against the seasoned Portmarnock Senior Cup player Michael Brett and had to be in top form to get home at the 17th.

Cannon and Nicky Grant, the only member of the successful Ulster Interpro side in the field, look a good bet to come through in the second quarter while the man to watch at the top of the draw has to be the youthful Tullamore golfer Stuart Grehan who enjoyed a best of the Interpro series 5½ points from a possible six and was yet another well worthy of recognition by the national selectors.

Grehan emerged a highly impressive 5&4 winner over Mallow’s David Finn.

John Hickey of Cork Golf Club pulled off the day’s main upset when he disposed of 2011 champion Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) while there were conflicting fortunes for two of last week’s Munster team-mates. Gary O’Flaherty, Hickey’s clubmate, came through at the 17th against Matthew Kane (Whitehead) but Niall Gorey (Muskerry) went down to Eoin O’Connor (Elm Park), also by 2&1.

There was better news for Muskerry as David O’Donovan disposed of Castletroy’s Stephen Moloney by 3&2.

And at the end of a day that began at 7am and ended exactly 14 hours later, last year’s runner-up Stephen Healy (Claremorris) ended the hopes of Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), a brother of Shane.