Dun Laoghaire and Westport bounce back to make AIG Junior Cup final
The Westport Junior Cup team. (L-R) Ronan Mahon, Ronan Hehir, Tony Bree (Team Captain), Shane Larkin, Anto Browne and Fergus Rothwell. Picture: Thos Caffrey / www.golffile.ie
Dun Laoghaire will meet hosts Westport in the final of the AIG Junior Cup after both clubs staged dramatic comebacks on the back nine at the Mayo venue.
The Leinster champions denied Tramore the chance to fight for a green pennant in their 125th anniversary year when they turned their semi-final around and clinched a 3.5-1.5 victory.
“We looked dead and buried early on and they just kept going,” said Dun Laoghaire captain Niall Keyes. “Patrick McCann was four down after 11 in the second match and he came through. We just turned it around in the second half.
“It’s really hard to win a match in interclub match play, it just is difficult. You just keep going and going and they did. And they won four of the five matches.”
Westport’s local knowledge proved invaluable as they too came before behind and beat Malone 4-1.
“We turned it around,” said Westport’s captain, Tony Bree. “It was not looking great after nine holes. We were down in three of the matches. Only one was winning.
“Like a lot of matches around here, things turn on the back nine. Our guys began to turn it around. We played some great golf. First three matches were down and we slowly got back to all square. We got our noses in front on 15 and 16.
Team Dun Laoghaire. (L-R:) Sam Varian, Brian Begley, Kevin Giblin, Paul Gilsenan, John Murphy and Niall Keyes (Team Captain). Picture: Golffile | Thos Caffrey
“I felt after about 13 holes, it looked like we were going to win the fourth match comfortably and they were going to win the fifth match comfortably. From the top three games, we need two of the three, which at the time had all gone all square.
“It’s all down to tomorrow and hopefully it’ll be our day. We’ve had a few close calls the last while and it hasn’t gone our way so hopefully now home advantage and big support, we’ll be able to get it done.”
Westport offers a gentle start before the tough, 10-hole stretch from the sixth to the 15th.
“it’s comfort for the lads as well,” Bree said. “They know what’s expected, what they can get away with and what they can’t. On the greens, they know the lines of the putts.
“We’ve been there before. I played at Carton House in 2015 and Royal Tara in 2013. Hopefully we’ll be celebrating tomorrow night but whether it goes right or wrong, we’ve had a great run. The lads have put it all in this year.”
AIG Junior Cup Semi-Finals, Westport GC
Malone 1, Westport 4
Luke O’Sullivan lost to Ronan Hehir 4&3;
Fionn Dobbin lost to Ronan Mahon 1 h;
Marco Deane halved with Anto Browne;
Ben Connolly lost to Fergus Rothwell 3&2;
Jamie Thompson halved with Shane Larkin.
Dun Laoghaire 3.5, Tramore 1.5
Brian Begley lost to Martin Walshe 2&1;
Patrick McCann bt Dave Bennett 1 h;
Jamie Campbell bt David Spillane 2&1;
Kevin Giblin bt Rory Keighery 1 h;
Sam Varian halved with Paul Power
