Gorey and O’Donovan lead Muskerry to Barton Shield glory

Niall Gorey works for the company that makes the All-Ireland winners’ medals but yesterday he earned one to keep as Muskerry delivered one half of an AIG Cups and Shields double for Munster.

Gorey’s Muskerry won the Barton Shield for the first time since 1953 by three holes over Ulster champions Warrenpoint, while Castletroy lifted the Junior Cup, their quintet fighting back to defeat Leinster champions Castle GC 3½-1½ in singles matchplay.

Irish international Gorey, 35, and 36-year-old Dave O’Donovan drove Muskerry to victory over the O’Meara course as they defeated Warrenpoint’s Stephen Coulter and William Hanna by five holes while in the second match Mark Hallissey and John Waldron did their part to keep the Ulster champions’ in-form pairing of Ryan Gribben and Colm Campbell to just a two-hole win, Muskerry thereby securing the title by three holes on aggregate.