Castlegregory add 2017 Nines title to 2018 title

CASTLEGREGORY Golf Club made it back to back wins in the Nines of Kerry Shield on Saturday last, beating Ballyheigue Castle in the delayed 2017 final at Parknasilla, a week after beating Castlerosse in the 2018 final at Ballybunion.

The 2017 event was not completed for various reasons including weather postponements and the unavailability of the course at Parknasilla, and in an ironic twist, Ballyheigue were also chasing back to back wins having won the event in 2016 after beating Castlgregory in the final of that year at Killarney.

Saturday’s win means that Castlegregory become just the second team in the event’s history to win two in a row, following Ardfert’s three in a row between 2011 and 2013.

The Castlegregory team on Saturday last, included just two pairings from the team who won the 2018 title on the previous Saturday and one of those pairings, Tom Moriarty (10) & Tina Moriarty (18) got them off to the best possible start beating Maurice McElligott (9) & Lorraine Canty (16) by 2/1.

The second surviving pairing from the previous week, Eddie Hannafin (10) & Teresa Rice (20) added the second point in match number three after an exciting tussle with the “Golf Doc” James O’ Dowd (2) and Norah Quinlan 18 which ended on the eighteenth and after another titanic struggle in match number two, Mike Keane (8) and Ann Woods (22) clinched it for the Maharees club, beating Enda O Halloran (7) & Ann Leahy (19) on the 20th.

The Men’s Fourball between Castlegregory’s Sean O Connor (16) & Pat Mulcahy (12) and Ballyheigue’s Denis O’Regan (14) & Jimmy O Sullivan (14) was called in for a half as was the Ladies fourball between Alana Rowan (13) & Ann Collins (24) and Kathleen Kilbride (21) & Marie McMahon (21) for an overall result of 4-1.

Castlegregory will now be looking to emulate Ardfert for the “Three-in-a-row” next year and with four titles to their credit, they draw level with Ross.

Surely both clubs will in the coming years, be looking equal or beat, Ardfert’s haul of eight.

The Castlegregory Golf Club team who won the Kerry Federation 2017 Kerry 9s final by beating Ballyheigue in Parknasilla on Saturday. Front, from left, Theresa Rice, Castlegregory GC Captains 2017 Geraldine Flynn and Tommy King, Tina Moriarty and Anne Collins. Centre: Alana Rowan, Maire McCarthy, Anne Woods, Lady President Merlyn O’Connor. Back, Mike Keane, Pat Mulcahy, Mens President Eddie Hanafin, Tom Moriarty and Sean O’Connor.