Ballybunion run out of luck in Carr Trophy

BALLYBUNION who came through the two previous rounds with extra-hole victories, finally ran out of luck in the Munster semi-final of the Joe Carr Diamond Trophy losing to Fermoy in a play off at the first extra hole.

Against Killarney in the Kerry final at the nineteenth, and Limerick Golf Club in the Munster quarter-finals at the twenty-third, the North Kerry side got through thanks to the heroics of Donal Liston and Seán Walsh but on Saturday last, they went to the well once too often and on this occasion, came away empty-handed.

The County Cork club had won the first leg in Fermoy by three matches to two and arrived in Ballybunion with an army of between fifty and sixty supporters who were all confident of causing an upset.

Wins from Liston and Walsh, Seamus Hanley and Vincent O’Kelly, and Tony Hanley and Tom Scanlon saw Ballybunion get a three-two win in the second leg, which then necessitated the extra hole play-off, but it should really never have got that far, as one of the home pairings who were five up after ten holes, lost seven holes in a row for a 2/1 loss when a 4-1 second leg win for outright victory looked very much on the cards for Ballybunion

Once again Liston and Walsh the heroes from the two previous playoff wins were called upon by the Ballybunion management to rescue the situation but having failed to find the fairway with either of their tee shots and failing to reach the green with their second, they lost to a regulation par despite a great effort from Liston with his par putt which just slid by the hole.

So, the great adventure is over for this year and Fermoy advance to the Munster final where they will either Ballykisteen or Dungarvan who contest the other semi-final.

Castleisland Members Golf Club who held their Captains Day, pictured here with club Captain Jonathan Kelliher and prize winners last Sunday