Kerry teams win three Munster Inter-County Championship titles including historic victory for ladies
Deerpark’s Eileen McCarthy bridged a 23-year gap as she was on the Kerry team that won the 2001 Munster title in Deerpark and helped Kerry to another provincial title in Tralee at the weekend
Mark Keohane (Pitch & Putt Ireland President) presenting the Munster Ladies Nett Shield to Kerry 1 Ladies team captain Charlotte Blake after their victory in the Munster Ladies Inter-County Nett event on Saturday in Tralee. Also pictured, from left, are Lisa O'Connor, Tony Blake (team manager), Catriona O'Connor and Eileen McCarthy.
While it had been well marked on everyone’s calendar in Pitch & Putt circles, three out of four successes on home turf in the Munster Inter-County Championships in Tralee last weekend exceeded a lot of expectations, while there was a historic success for one of the two Kerry ladies teams on the day.
On Saturday afternoon they became the first Kerry ladies side in 23 years to win a Munster Inter-County competition as they won the Nett event with a combined total of 241 points. Deerpark’s Eileen McCarthy was the playing link between both sides as she was on the Kerry Ladies side that won the 2001 Munster event in Deerpark.
This year she combined with Tralee trio Charlotte Blake (team captain), Lisa and Catriona O’Connor to give the county a momentous win. After the Scotch Foursomes Doubles Kerry trailed the Tipperary 3 team by one point on 80 points but a 45-point return from Eileen McCarthy in the Singles coupled with 43 points for Blake put Kerry ahead as Lisa and Catriona O’Connor brought in 37 and 36 point totals respectively to give Kerry their final total of 241. It saw them finish seven ahead of Cork 2 as Cork’s first team won the main Gross prize with 187 points.
The second team that competed on the day was supported by O’Connor Construction and consisted of Betty O’Brien, Eileen Switzer, Jean O’Shea and Orla O’Mahony. The ladies success on Saturday afternoon followed a victory for the Junior Men’s team in their event earlier in the day.
They had trailed Cork by four after the Doubles by really stepped up in the Singles as Mark O’Regan had one under par in the Singles, Pa Byrne level par, with David Hobbert (+1), Robbie O’Connor (+4) and Noel Lee (+7) their counting scores in the Singles with Mark O’Shea the other member of the winning team as their total score of +12 was 17 better than Cork in second. The team was looked after by County Board Chairman Christy O’Mahony as Kerry retained the title and won the event for a third time overall.
Mark Keohane (Pitch & Putt Ireland President) presenting the Munster Junior Men's Shield to Kerry captain Pa Byrne following their victory in last Saturday's Inter-County event in Tralee. Also pictured, from left, are Christy O'Mahony (team manager), Mark O'Regan, David Hobbert, Noel Lee, Jerry Lee (sub), Mark O'Shea and Robbie O'Connor
Sunday’s play meanwhile saw victory for the Intermediate Men’s team as similar to the Juniors, singles scoring got them the win. It was tied at 15 under par each between Kerry and Cork in the Singles before two under par for team captain Eamon Sheehy, one under for both James Fleming and Keith O’Brien, level par for Bobby McCarron and one over for Fergal Roche gave them a winning score of 18 under par with Listowel’s Bobby McCarron the other member of the winning team and John Fitzgerald of Tralee the team manager.
It was Kerry’s third time winning this event as well as both the Intermediate and Junior Men’s teams now go forward to National Challenges against Leinster winners Kildare (Intermediate) and Westmeath (Junior) on Sunday September 22 next at a venue to be confirmed.
Mark Keohane (Pitch & Putt Ireland President) presenting the Munster Intermediate Men's Shield to Kerry captain Eamon Sheehy and team manager John Fitzgerald. Also pictured, from left, are Keith O'Brien, Mark Lucey (sub), Michael Creagh, Fergal Roche, Bobby McCarron and James Fleming.
Meanwhile, the Kerry Senior Men’s team were unable to complete the clean sweep for the weekend as they had to settle for second against defending champions Cork. Kerry trailed Cork by three after the Scotch Foursomes (29 under as opposed to 26 under for the hosts) but Cork’s strong singles scoring told in the final 18 holes.
Jason O’Regan and Darren Goodall both brought in eight under par with Damien Fleming and Jason Cregan shooting seven under par each as Michael Conway had Kerry’s other counting score of four under in bringing the county to a final total of 58 under, 13 off Cork’s winning score of -71 as Jamie Blake was the other member of the Kerry side managed by James Fleming.
This weekend sees the final major U16 event of the year the National Matchplay Championships in St Bridgets, Kildare where Brian McCarthy of Deerpark is the defending champion.
Elsewhere, Damien Fleming, Jason Cregan and Tony Blake play in the deciding Irish World Cup Team trial in St Patricks, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford this Saturday.
Finally, Kerry Pitch and Putt offers it sympathies to the family and colleagues of Dan O’Donovan of the Gleneagle club on his death in the past week. May he rest in peace.
