Ballybunion end 34-year wait

Ballybunion ended a 34-year national title drought yesterday when its all-teenage team lifted the Junior Cup on day two of the AIG All-Ireland Cups & Shields National Finals at Royal Tara Golf Club.

It was the Kerrymen’s first Junior Cup success, coming in a 4-1 victory over Connacht champions Westport in the five-man singles event for players with a five handicap or higher, and a first national title since Ballybunion won the Jimmy Bruen Shield in 1979, 16 years before the oldest member of the yesterday’s team was born.

There had been some near misses, a lost Senior Cup final in 2000 and a Bruen final defeat in 2005, but the Junior Cup produced the winning formula for captain John Maher’s talented young side.