Thurles head for Carton House on twin mission

As one of 20 teams still standing from a starting field of 1,800, Thurles Golf Club have plenty reason to be proud heading into this week’s AIG Cups and Shields finals at Carton House.

Yet when their supporters travel from Co. Tipperary to the Kildare course on Thursday morning for their Pierce Purcell Shield All-Ireland semi-final against Connacht champions Portumna, the Munster pennant holders will also be on a fact-finding mission as future hosts of the Cups and Shields after yesterday being named as the host course for 2018.

The Golfing Union of Ireland’s showpiece interclub event has been staged at its Carton House headquarters since 2014 but with the resort’s Montgomerie and O’Meara courses hosting next year’s World Amatuer Team Championships, the AIG Cups and Shields finals are being taken back on the roads of Ireland with Thurles the chosen venue for 2018 as the event reverts to provincial rotation.