Team captain hails battling Thurles after third Purcell Shield success

Thurles Golf Club celebrated a third Pierce Purcell Shield All Ireland title and a second in three years as team captain Jimmy Ryan praised his players’ battling qualities and work ethic.

The high handicappers’ foursomes event often provides the most heightened emotions of the week at the AIG Cups and Shields finals and the Tipperary club did not let anyone down in terms of drama at Carton House over the past two days, the Munster champions coming from behind to win a semi-final over Portumna on Thursday before edging a tense decider with Royal Curragh yesterday.

The contest went down to the 18th hole of the fifth and final foursomes match as Stephen Quigley and Martin Fahy closed out a one-hole victory over Brenny Murphy and Paul Dempsey, Fahy sending in a pitch over a bunker onto the green for Quigley to putt within gimme distance.