Cork bring off magnificent double in Killarney

On a weekend of unbelievable tension, resilient Cork Golf Club brought off magnificent double in the Munster provincial finals staged on the Mahony’s Point course in Killarney.

On Saturday, they staged a remarkable rally to capture the Munster section of the Irish Senior Cup at the expense of Limerick and yesterday had to go three tie holes before defeating Waterford Castle in the Barton Shield decider.

Team captain Vincent Twohig was understandably delighted with the spirit his players displayed and they now move on to the national finals at Royal Tara on September 18-21 with confidence sky high.

In the Senior Cup on Saturday Cork and Limerick easily disposed of Tralee and Waterford Castle in the semi-finals. However, there was little indication of the drama about to unfold when the Little Island side got off to the slowest possible start in the final and still looked to have little or no hope as the contest entered the concluding stages.

Limerick duly captured two points when young Mark MacGrath beat Eoghan Murphy in the top match at the 16th while the experienced Michael O’Kelly also held on to defeat Mark Ford by 2 and 1.

And with Gary O’Flaherty one down with two play against his great friend Pat Murray, Ian O’Flynn two behind with three to play against Mark Poucher and John Hickey involved in a dogfight against Sean Poucher, Cork hardly looked a good bet to win all three remaining matches.

However, the picture changed dramatically when an eagle at the 16th inspired O’Flynn to mount a marvellous recovery while O’Flaherty was also ready to pounce.

He levelled his contest with Murray by hitting a drive and lob wedge to four feet for birdie to level the match on the 17th and even though the Limerick man did well to make par at the famous par three 18th, there was nothing he could do when O’Flaherty holed for a birdie two having drilled a superb six iron to eight feet. The pair produced 13 birdies between them.

Cork’s joy was unconfined within minutes when O’Flynn birdied the 19th to beat Martin Poucher and to complete a disappointing afternoon for the Poucher siblings, Hickey got home by one hole against Sean to complete his side’s great escape.

Cork were fully extended by Nenagh in the semi-final of the Barton Shield before getting through by two holes whereas Waterford Castle were five holes too strong for Doneraile.

The afternoon final saw brothers Bill and Ben Murray build up an early lead for Waterford and they went on to beat O’Flynn and Ford by 4 holes. However, it looked as if their efforts would be in vain as their team mates Pat Madigan and Denis Sinnott fell five behind O’Flaherty and Hickey entering the closing stages.

Cork still enjoyed a one hole overall advantage as the match reached the 18th but they found serious trouble to the left of the green off the tee and the Waterford pair claimed the hole to bring the contest into extra holes.

It all ended in further glory for Cork at the 21st as Hickey slotted home the winning putt from six feet.