Muskerry primed for challenge
The Munster champions, chasing their first title in the prestigious foursomes event since 1953, begin their bid for a long awaited end to their drought with a semi-final against Connacht pennant holders Athenry as the Golfing Union of Ireland’s AIG Cups and Shields finals get underway this morning on the O’Meara Course at the Maynooth hotel and golf resort.
Warrenpoint, who won the Barton in 2011 at Castelrock, and Leinster champions Royal Dublin will contest the other semi-final.
Muskerry missed out on a chance to meet Warrenpoint in the Senior Cup final three years ago having lost their semi-final to Portmarnock in atrocious conditions on the north coast links.
Muskerry captain Greg O’Sullivan was captain of that squad also and still has four of that year’s quintet of singles players on his panel this time around Irish international Niall Gorey and David O’Donovan and John Waldron and Daniel Hallissey more than likely to tee off today.
They came through a difficult Munster competition this year, Muskerry seeing off the likes of last year’s Munster champions Cork Golf Club in 19 holes and Mallow in 20 just to get to a southern area final against Castlemartyr, whom they beat 2-up.
The Munster semi-finals saw them beat a very strong Ballybunion side in deteriorating conditions that would have suited the Kerry links-men better at Shannon before they took the provincial pennant over Dungarvan.
“Niall Gorey’s international experience is a big help to us and the boys work well with him, so it’s all good,” O’Sullivan said. “They can all hit golf shots in this competition so we just have to wait and see whether the putts will drop for us or not.
“The forecast looks good for us and I think we’re due that after 2011 at Castlerock. The (weather) conditions there were horrendous, it just bucketed out of the heavens on us but I have been talking to a few of the locals here and they say the weather’s good.”
O’Sullivan said the Muskerry quartet will not lack for team unity this week at Carton House or some expert assistance.
“I captained Muskerry in 2011 and got to know the guys and there’s a good bond there and plenty of banter between us. When you’re living in each other’s pockets with all the travelling up and down from Cork you get to know one another and that’s great.
“They came up last week together to see the course and play it and they’ve been together since 2010, Davey and Wally and Hallissey and Gorey, so they know what one another’s thinking at this stage and they feed off of each other very well.
“The experience is standing to us but we’re lucky, too, that we have Fred Twomey, the Munster coach with us as well. He grew up in short pants in Muskerry so his heart and soul is in the place.
“He’s having a fantastic time, coaching a Munster team that has won the interprovincials for the second time in three years and he’s coached through our first senior lady to the Home Internationals in Jean O’Driscoll. It wouldn’t be the same without him.
“It’s going to be a good challenge but our boys are in good shape and we’ll see how we get on against Athenry in the morning. It’s only the second time as a club we’ve got to this stage of the Barton Shield so it just goes to show you how hard it is to get to even get to an All-Ireland semis. We’re savouring the moment and looking forward to letting the golf ball do the talking.”
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