ENNISCORTHY

The Enniscorthy team of Jason Rackard, Paul Conroy and brothers Graham and Dayle Donohoe came up against a very good Dundalk in the final of the Barton Shield on Saturday in Mount Wolseley and lost by seven holes.

They had beaten Tullamore 4 up in the quarter-final on Friday morning, and in the afternoon they beat Dun Laoghaire 3 up in the semi final.

The quality of the final was extraordinary. Both Enniscorthy pairings started slowly but gradually found their way.

Jason Rackard and Paul Conroy faced two Irish internationals, Caolan Rafferty (+4) and Eamo Murphy (+1), and the match ended on the 15th hole with the Dundalk pair six under par and the two Enniscorthy lads three under par.

The Donohoe brothers, Graham (+2) and Dayle (scratch), were just one hole behind Arron Grant and Josh Mackin with two holes to play but they were called in.

Paul Conroy, playing off a handicap of one, had a busy couple of weekends. He became the second Enniscorthy golfer to win the boys’ Under-18 title in Waterford Castle.

In his opening round he started with a double bogey but recovered to hit six birdies and a 67, followed by a mixed second round of 71 which included an eagle, four birdies, a double bogey and three bogeys.

He shot a fine 71 in the third and final round to win by three shots from Max Kennedy of Royal Dublin. Paul will now play with the Leinster boys’ Under-18 team in the inter-provincials this week.

Paul was on the successful Barton Cup-winning team last year.