All Ireland Schools glory for St Colman's Fermoy and CBS Roscommon
Fionn Hoare, Simon Walker, Kevin Connaughton, Thomas Higgins and Cian O'Connor winners of the Senior Irish Schools Championship Final, Macroom Golf Club, Co. Cork 18/08/2020 Picture © Golffile | Oisín Keniry
St. Colman’s College in Fermoy emerged victors in the Irish Schools Junior Championship at Macroom on Tuesday while CBS Roscommon claimed the Senior title.
Having seen off the challenge of local Cork side Colaiste Choilm from Ballincollig in the morning semi-finals CBS Roscommon came up against formidable opponents in the Royal Belfast Academical Institute in the final. The Ulster side had ousted Blackrock College from Dublin earlier in the day.
Cian O’Connor was the standout player for the Roscommon side in the semis, ending his match with Jack O’Keeffe on the 10th green with a monster 9&8 win.
That spurred the team on with Thomas Higgins adding a second point, beating Stephen Riordan 2&1 with Fionn Hoare ending his match early against Luca Rickard with a 6&5 win.
In the afternoon final, Hoare put a point on the board early on for Roscommon, with another 6&5 win, this time over Michael Glasgow. Alan Connaughton added a second point with victory over George Craigan 4&2 while wins for Simon Walker over Darcy Hogg (19th) and Cian O’Connor (2&1) on Robert Craigan closed out the victory by four matches to one.
Mark Hodgkins, Golf Co-ordinator in CBS was delighted afterwards and credited the success of the team to parents and Roscommon Golf Club.
“There’s a big sporting tradition in the school, between football and lots of other sports. This has come on a long way in the last few years and obviously golf has become really successful in the school over the last four or five years. We have to credit the parents really and the local club for the success that the team has had.”
Ciaran Rice (St. Colman's College, Fermoy), Ben Carey (St. Colman's College, Fermoy) and Louie Roche (St. Colman's College, Fermoy) winners of the Senior Irish Schools Championship Final, Macroom Golf Club, Co. Cork 18/08/2020 Picture © Golffile | Oisín Keniry
Earlier in the day St. Colman’s College from Fermoy claimed the Junior title on a score of 75 points, one clear of Garbally College in Ballinasloe.
Ben Carey shot 41 points with Louie Roche adding 34 with Ciaran Rice’s score being discounted in the best two of three stableford format as the Cork side made up for narrowly missing out in last year’s final.
Elaine Cronin, Team Captain paid tribute to the boys after their win.
“It’s an absolute privilege and an honour. We are thrilled. We didn’t expect this, there were lots of ups and downs so this this is a wonderful surprise. The boys were finalists last year up in Fermanagh and they missed out by two points so they are absolutely thrilled to come back and win this year.”
Irish Schools Junior Championship, Macroom Golf Club, All Ireland Final
75 points St Colman’s College, Fermoy (Ben Carey 41, Louie Roche 34, Ciaran Rice x)
74 points Garbally College, Ballinasloe (Tom Cafferky 37, Charlie Mooney 37, Hugh Killeen x)
71 points Cullybackey College, Ballymena (Kaedan Anderson 33, Josh Nicholl x, William Hammond 38)
70 points St Mary’s College, Rathmines (Scott Dillon 33, Jack Halpin 37, Evan Moynihan x)
Irish Schools Senior Championship, Macroom Golf Club, All Ireland Finals
Semi-finals
Royal Belfast Academical Institute 3, Blackrock College, Dublin 2
D Hogg bt R Galligan 3&1;
L Kelly bt T Kelly 4&3;
R Carigan lost to A Bolger 2 holes;
M Glasgow lost to J Foley 3&1;
G Craigan bt M O’Brien 2&1
CBS Roscommon 3, Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig 2
S Walker lost to K McCarthy 1 hole;
T Higgins bt S Riordan 2&1;
C O’Connor bt J O’Keeffe 9&8;
F Hoare bt L Rickard 6&5;
K Connaughton lost to J Lehane 4&3.
Final
CBS Roscommon 4 Royal Belfast Academical Institute 1
S Walker bt D Hodd 19th;
T Higgins lost to L Kelly 3&1;
C O’Connor bt R Craigan 2&1;
F Hoare bt M Glasgow 6&5;
A Connaughton bt G Craigan 4&2