Castleisland win Bruen Shield West Area Final

CASTLEISLAND produced a titanic performance to overcome the fancied Tralee side at a sun-scorched Mahony’s Point on Thursday last in the West Munster decider.

In a nail-biting finish the deciding match went to the 21st hole. An hour earlier things were looking good for Tralee as they bagged the first two points winning the first match on the 16th and the third match on the 17th.

In the final match Castleisland’s Stephen Crooks and Niall Gilroy came good on the 17th. The fourth match saw a roller coaster finish. Castleisland represented by Pat O’Sullivan and James McAuliffe were two down on the 16th tee.

Remarkably the won all three remaining holes for a great victory. The pivotal hole for Castleisland was the 17th where they scored a great par even though their drive found the hazard on the right. The score was now two apiece and the deciding match was now on the 19th.

In this match Castleisland’s Denis O’Sullivan (club captain) and Tone Brosnan were putting in a sterling performance. The 19th was halved in par the 20th in bogey. Then on to the 21st a long and difficult par 4 with a raised and sloped green.

It was fitting that Denis O’Sullivan, on his birthday, sank a winning par putt from the back fringe. There followed scenes of great jubilation from the large crowd that followed the match.

This victory for Castleisland is all the more remarkable by the fact that the club was on the point of being wound down only four years ago. The members took over the running of the course in late 2014. Fundraising was organised and assistance was provided by the surrounding established clubs, in particular Ballybunion, Killarney and Tralee.

Castleisland now take on Nenagh in the Munster semi-final at Co Tipperary (Dundrum) on Sunday July 22 where Kinsale will play west Waterford in the other semi-final.