Berehaven and Baltinglass to battle for AIG Jimmy Bruen and first All Ireland
Munster champions Berehaven Golf Club (above) and Leinster champions Baltinglass will be going for their first All Ireland title in the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield Final at Donegal GC on Thursday. Picture: Niall O'Shea
Berehaven are dreaming big after they beat Ballinasloe 3.5-1.5 to set up a battle with fellow minnows Baltinglass for the 2020 AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield at Donegal Golf Club on Thursday.
“It’s hard to describe,” said Luke O’Sullivan after partnering Declan Dunne to a 5&4 win over Padraic Ryan and Charlie Mooney. "We’re a small club, and to be in a national final is indescribable. It’s crazy.
“We’re getting calls from people who have never played the game in the area. It’s massive for the area.”
Baltinglass will also be going for their first All Ireland title after Neil Patterson and Stephen Mann clinched the winning point in a 3.5-1.5 win over hosts Donegal.
“Donegal played really well, but we just clicked thankfully,” a relieved Patterson said. “It’s massive for the club”.
The Jimmy Bruen Shield decider will be the highlight of a busy day at Murvagh with the semi-finals of the AIG Senior Cup, Junior Cup and Pierce Purcell Shield also scheduled.
Castletroy face Ballinasloe and Kilkenny meet Balmoral in the AIG Junior Cup as holders Galway take on Belvoir Park for the right to play Carton House or Faithlegg for the blue riband AIG Senior Cup.
Gort play Spanish Point in the semi-finals of the AIG Pierce Purcell Shield with the winners to meet Dunmurry or Cill Dara in tomorrow’s final.
2020 AIG Cups & Shields Finals at Donegal GC
AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield Semi-Finals
Berehaven 3.5-1.5 Ballinasloe
S Spencer & B O’Driscoll bt J Corbett & M Corbett 1 h;
D Dunne & L O’Sullivan bt P Ryan & C Mooney 5&4;
C Downey & D Kelly halved with C Smyth & C Murphy;
L Hanley & G Power bt F Finneran & D Flannery 4&3;
L Harrington & D Hegarty lost to T Cafferky & M Conneely 6&4.
Donegal 1.5-3.5 Baltinglass
B Madden & S Carlin lost to J Bowes & B Lord 3&2;
D Mulhern & D McMenamin lost to F Doogue & N Gerraghty 3&2;
S Meehan & T Kangombe bt D Byrne & E Coone 3&2;
D Rafferty & P Farragher lost to N Patterson & S Mann 2&1;
O Plunkett & C Hegarty halved with N Doogue & R McHugh
Thursday
AIG Junior Cup Semi-Finals
(8.0) Castletroy v Ballinasloe Teams
(8.45) Kilkenny v Balmoral Teams
AIG Senior Cup Semi-Finals:
From 9.40. Carton House v Faithlegg
Marc Boucher v Rory Milne
Keith Egan v Alex King
Eoin Sullivan v Dylan O'Connor
Darragh Flynn v Rory Fives
Paul O'Hanlon v Joe McCleane
From 10.25 Galway v Belvoir Park
Stephen Brady v Gareth Lappin
Eddie McCormack v Scott Jones
Liam Nolan v Simon Ward
Cathal Nolan v Darcy Hogg
Joe Lyons v David Shaw
AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Semi-Finals
(11.10) Gort v Spanish Point
(12.05) Dunmurry v Cill Dara.
AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield Final
(1.0) Berehaven v Baltinglass. Teams
Friday
AIG Senior Cup Final: (8.30);
AIG Junior Cup Final (9.20);
AIG Pierce Purcell Shield Final (10.10).
