Cork focus switches to Sligo clash

Cork Golf Club’s dreams of an AIG All-Ireland Cups & Shields National Finals double may have been dashed already this week but the team is being backed to bounce back in today’s Senior Cup semi-finals.

The Little Island club came into finals week at Royal Tara Golf Club in Meath chasing a Barton Shield-Senior Cup double to highlight their 125th anniversary celebrations this year in fine style but those plans were derailed on Wednesday with a loss to Ulster champions Clandeboye by an aggregate seven holes in the scratch foursomes competition.

Now the Munster titleholders must regroup for today’s five singles contests in the Senior Cup as they bid to overcome fellow national powerhouse Co Sligo in the second semi-final of the day, the blue riband event of cups & shields week, due to be kick-started by the Ulster-Leinster clash between Rosapenna and Carton House.

“They’re bound to be disappointed but they have another opportunity,” Cork team captain Vincent Twohig said. “They’ve come back up a bit after Wednesday’s defeat and hopefully be back fully for the semi-finals.

“It’s always difficult when you’re all geed up and ready to go and it doesn’t happen. But it’s a panel effort, this is the first setback we’ve had this year.

“If they’d only have qualified for the Barton Shield, they’d be going home now. But we have an opportunity so let’s give it our best.”

Munster’s Jimmy Bruen Shield challengers Killorglin open their account today with a semi-final against Leinster champions Castlecomer, from Kilkenny, with Connacht representatives Athlone meeting Ulster’s Tandragee in the second semi, all four of the provincial titleholders going in search of a first-time national title in the event.

The Bruen is the last of the national cups and shields competitions to get underway this week and Killorglin captain Joe Kennedy has been grateful for the long lead-in for his players, who won the 1992-founded Kerry club’s first Munster title earlier this summer.

“We all got off to a slow start in practice on Wednesday,” Kennedy admitted. “I think there might have been a bit of nerves but they’ve played better since and adjusting to the situation. The boys on the fringe of the team are playing particularly well to give us selection issues and it bodes well.”

Today’s schedule:

Senior Cup semi-finals: Rosapenna v Carton House, 8.30am; Cork v Co. Sligo, 9.20am.

Pierce Purcell Shield final: 10.30am Jimmy Bruen Shield semi-finals: Castlecomer v Killorglin, 12pm; Athlone v Tandragee, 12.50pm.