Castlegregory to play two Kerry Nines finals in a week

THE final of the Kerry Nines Shield between Castlegregory and Castlerosse takes place at Ballybunion on Saturday, teeing off at 11am.

This is a unique event confined to the nine-hole courses of Kerry, which sees a team of ten (five men and five women) play three mixed foursomes, a men’s fourball and a ladies fourball.

There are now only five ninehole courses in the county that compete for this event, when at one stage around the turn of the century there were ten.

Sadly, since then we have seen Dunloe, Ballybeggan, the Kerries, Listowel and Ardfert all close down.

To reach this year’s final, Castlerosse beat Parknasilla in a preliminary match and then beat their Killarney neighbours Ross, while Castlegregory beat Ballyhiegue in their semi-final.

Ironically, the outstanding 2017 final will be played on Saturday week at Parknasilla, a week after this year’s final, meaning that Castlegregory will play two finals of the same event on consecutive Saturdays when they take on Ballyheigue Castle in Parknasilla on Saturday week because last year’s final could not be played in 2017 for a number of reasons.

Like the Dr Billy O’Sullivan Shield, this event was the brainchild of the late John B. O’Shea of Dooks and the inaugural event was played in 2002 when Ardfert beat Ross in the final.

The now defunct Ardfert club are by far the most successful club in this tournament’s history, winning the title on eight occasions with wins in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Ross have four titles - 2003, 2008, 2010 and 2014 while Castlegregory have won it twice in 2005 and 2007.

So, a likely winner on Saturday? Castlerosse are contesting their first ever final and I’m sure the neutrals would love to see the friendly Killarney club lift their first piece of Federation silverware but Castlegregory are always a formidable side and playing on a links at Balybunion’s Old course you would have to fancy them.

As for the 2017 final on Saturday week, it’s anyone’s ball-game.

Should Castlegregory win this Saturday and lift the 2018 title, then, of course they would be very motivated to make it two in a row (in reverse) but Ballyheigue won the 2016 title and would love to win two in a row also. Confusing isn’t it?