Organisers will be able to start allocating tee off times for the FBD GAA Golf Challenge All-Ireland final from this weekend as the Connacht final takes place on Friday and the provincial stage of the competition draws to a close.
Connacht already has a presence in the final following Roscommon GAA Club’s success in the New York leg. Lismore of Waterford, Cavan Gaels of Ulster and St Brigid’s of Leinster won their respective provincial crowns and the Chicago leg, which takes a match play format, has reached semi-final stage.
Claremorris is the venue for this year’s Connacht decider and as it happens, it is home to the only Connacht team to have won the FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge, in 2005. Claremorris will be back to defend the provincial title they retrieved last year after Athenry and Jarlath Cloonan prevented them from the chance to do the double in 2006.
This time round, Mayo football stalwart John Finn will be lining out for Kiltimagh, while teams from next door Galway include Salthill-Knocknacara and Greg Kennedy’s Loughrea. Both are accustomed to All-Ireland successes in their usual discipline, but on Friday the likes of Leitrim’s Allen Gaels and Cappataggle, will be intent on making sure that that success does not extend to the golf course.
Ballyhaunis golf club
Brendan Mooney won the Ballyhaunis captain’s prize last weekend with a score of 130 playing off 17. He came home four points ahead of Micheal Lyons who finished the competition with 134 points off 18. Denis Charlton took the gross prize for the competition with a score of 151 off 5 and Alo Reddington came fourth with a score of 136.
The Cat 1 competition was won by Brian Philips, with Edward Webb taking the Cat 2 and Gary Duffy the Cat 3. Patsy Glynn was top of the leaderboard for the first 18 holes with a 66 and Rory O’Conner taking the prize for the second 18 with a score of 68. Liam Lynskey took the past captain prize with a score of 139 and the best junior went to Eogahn Collins with a 66. The ladies’ competition was won by Margaret Dyer with a score of 68, Norrie Dillon came second with a score of 69 and Phil Glynn came third with a score of 70 net and Kay Buckley took the gross prize with a score of 70 nett.
