County matchplay titles for Hobbert, Sheehy and Kelliher

LAST Sunday the Kerry Matchplay finals took place in Newmarket in adverse weather conditions. Although the course was playing hard and the weather too added there were some very tight encounters across the grades.

In the Junior grade some of the locals put in some stellar performances with Alan Dugdale making the final. On the other side Padraig Hobbert from the Tralee club overcame the challenge of local Kevin O’Connor. In the final it was the Tralee man who prevailed winning on the seventeenth hole. This was Padraig’s first county title having coming in fifth in the recent All-Ireland Strokeplay finals.

In the Intermediates three of the semi-finalists were from Tralee Jason Cregan, Alan Hobbert and Eamon Sheehy. In the first semi Alan Hobbert took care of his good friend Jason to progress to the final. While in the second semi it was Eamon who overcame the challenge of Castleisland’s Timmy Looney Jnr. In the finals which were cut back to eighteen holes from thirty-six due to the weather conditions. A tight affair between the Tralee men who play each other regularly up on the Killeen course with some fantastic play throughout it was Eamon Sheehy who came through to win his first County title at this level.

In the Seniors it took the fourth tie hole to separate Tralee’s Tony Blake and Deerpark’s St. John Kelliher with the Killarney man prevailing. In the other semi It was a repetition of last year’s semi in Deerpark with Sean Kelly and Damien Fleming up against each other and again it was Kelly who made it through to the final. In the final it was St. John who went on to win his first County title.

A special mention to the sponsors of this event were the Newmarket Credit Union. The Tralee Pitch and Putt Club will host the Munster Mixed Foursomes this coming Sunday up on the Killeen course.

At the presentation of prizes of the Killarney GC Pat Courtney Memorial Mixed Foursomes prize at the Mahony’s Point course were, front, Claire Courtney, Agnes and James Curran, winners and Mary O’Rourke, Lady Captain. Back from left, Kelly Brotherton, Brendan and Kathleen Brosnan, Bridie and Brian Fitzgerald, Arthur Hanley, President, Liam Hartnett and Eoin O’Donoghue.

Christian Casey, Killarney Golf Club, celebrates a hole-in-one on the 4th round at Mahonys Point during the Kerry Junior League competition at Killarney GC. He is pictured here with Mike McAuliffe and Ned Brosnan, Killarney Golf Club junior officers, Jack Buckley, Captain of the Federation of County Kerry Golf Clubs and Pat O’Dwyer, Kerry Junior Golf officer. Photo by Eamonn Keogh