Defeat for Deerpark in national inter-club semi-final

Jason O’Connor

UNFORTUNATELY, it ended in defeat for Deerpark in the semi-finals of the National Inter-Club event in Royal Meath, Clonee last Saturday as they lost out to eventual winners Gowran of Kilkenny by 5-4.

The Killarney club had led after the morning’s Scotch Foursomes matches, the combinations of Lorcan Martin and Darragh O’Callaghan along with Gearóid Cronin and Adam Kelly halving their matches, but a 5&3 win for Declan Kelly and John O’Brien in their match gave Deerpark 2-1 lead at the halfway stage.

Gowran would go on to dominate the Singles however with a 2&1 win for O’Callaghan, Deerpark’s only success in the six singles matches as halves for Kieran Fitzpatrick and Declan Kelly meant Gearoid Cronin’s 2&1 loss in the remaining singles match gave Gowran a 5-4 win.

The Kilkenny club would go on to win the Final against Riverdale of Nenagh later in the day. The County Board offers commiserations to Deerpark on their loss as well as condolences to team member Noel Moynihan on the death of his father in the build-up to last Saturday’s event.

On Sunday Deerpark held their annual Scratch Cups, this time over a shortened distance of 36 holes for all grades with Shane Hoare from the Larkspur Park club in Cashel the victor in the Senior competition (sponsored by Tadhg’s Boutique, Killarney) with 13 under par, two ahead of Deerpark’s Damien Fleming who finished on 11 under.

Tralee’s Jason O’Regan was third meanwhile on 10 under. The Intermediate (sponsored by O’Callaghan’s Coach Holidays) and Junior (sponsored by the McLellan family) grades meanwhile saw some solace for Deerpark Inter-Club players Gearoid Cronin and Darragh O’Callaghan.

Cronin retained the Intermediate event with a score of four under par, one ahead of four players who all finished on three under par namely Deerpark brothers John and Robbie O’Brien Jnr along with Castleisland’s Timmy Looney and Tralee’s Roger Guthrie with the O’Brien brothers finishing second and third respectively on countback.

O’Callaghan, meanwhile, won the Junior event with a score of two over par, five clear of clubmate Colm O’Dowd in second with another Deerpark player John Murphy a further two shots behind in the third.

The Ladies 11-18 prize was won by Margaret O’Donovan from the Bruff club in Limerick with a score of 131. While the year is now concluded beyond club level, we reminder everyone that the County Board AGM takes place in Castleisland on Monday, November 12 at 8pm.

Nomination and Motion forms have been issued and are asked to be returned to County Secretary Jason O’Connor by Friday week, November 9.