Galway Bay and Fortwilliam make AIG All-Ireland history
Galway Bay celebrate winning their first AIG Men’s Jimmy Bruen Shield at Thurles Golf Club Photo: Dan Clohessy
Galway Bay ended the heartache of two previous All-Ireland defeats to claim a first AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield for the Connacht club, while Fortwilliam created history of their own by securing a first Women’s All-Ireland title in the club’s 135-year history in a nail-biting AIG Minor Foursomes final at Thurles.
Ian Folan’s side had reached the All-Ireland semi-final stage in 2024 and 2025 and, having secured their place for the third year in a row, Galway Bay were not to be denied this time around.
The Connacht champions faced Tipperary in the final, with the Munster side themselves chasing a maiden Jimmy Bruen title. The early exchanges were nip and tuck, with Tipperary taking the advantage in the opening two matches while Galway Bay roared ahead in the bottom two.
Sean O’Gallchoir and 15-year-old Callan Dolan were the first to put Folan’s men in front, winning the bottom match 7&6 before Trevor Horan and Garreth Glynn put Galway Bay just a half point away from victory in match four, winning 5&4.
Tipperary held the advantage in match two thru 16 holes, but the title would be decided in the top match as Paul Glynn and 13-year-old Conor Mannion held their nerve to secure the victory on the 17th hole to spark emotional scenes.
“I’m so proud and relieved,” said Folan.
“We were beaten in the last two All-Ireland semi-finals and those lads, they’ve battled and battled and they really deserve it.” “We knew we had it in us as a club. I am very emotional at the moment. There’s a lot of effort put in. Some of the younger lads came in to the team and they made all the difference. The support was great from our club and our members.” “This is for everyone in the club and I’m just so happy that we got it over the line.” The Women’s Minor Foursomes final would be an even tighter encounter on Sunday afternoon as Fortwilliam and Westmanstown squared off.
Fortwilliam opened the scoring with a 4&3 victory for club captain Eilish Rutherford and Liz Lamont before Westmanstown answered back with a 3&2 win for Mary Higgins and Mary Walshe.
Match four went the way of Fortwilliam as Jo McKenna and Mandy Mills put the Ulster side in front with a 3&2 win, meaning the destination of the green pennant would come down to the outcome of match two.
The Dublin side held a 1up lead thru 16 holes as the final looked destined for a playoff, but Joan Campbell and Patricia Hesketh mounted a late comeback to bring the tie down the 18th hole.
With a large crowd watching on, Campbell made the all-important six-foot putt to secure a half point, ending a more than century long wait for a Women’s All-Ireland pennant.
“The girls were wonderful,” said team captain Alan Rutherford.
“Both days it went down to the 18th hole but we are absolutely delighted. The girls have been amazing all season. It’s brilliant for our club.” “It’s massive for us and for our ladies’ section who have never been here before. The last one was in the early 2000s when we won the Junior Cup.” “We already had our team warming up to go up the extra holes, as a club we have lost so many extra holes finals over the years so to nail it with a six-foot putt is absolutely brilliant.”
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