Taghmon tops again in annual golf clash with Crokes

THE EIGHTH annual Purple and Gold Cup between Taghmon Golf Society and the Kilmacud Crokes Golf Society from Dublin took place in the resplendent Woodenbridge on Sunday, October 15.

An early start to catch the bus (everyone turned up on time for a change) from Taghmon at 6.30 a.m. was required so we could avail of the mixed grill breakfast before the game to charge up the batteries.

Confidence was high and the craic was good on the journey up, with the usual slagging and mirth on Nash’s bus en route, and we were confident of bringing the cup home again for the third year running.

At 9 a.m. play started on a misty, drizzly day after some heavy rain in the previous days, but the course was fully playable and in great order and everyone enjoyed their golf.

As the day wore on the clouds lifted and the beautiful scenery of the Avoca Valley revealed itself.

The contrasting colours of the trees just added to the majesty of the setting along with the dozens of pheasants all over the course. No wonder it is called the Augusta of Ireland.

It was great to see our Jim back on the course after a few months of a lay-off and returning a score of one over par, not too bad for a man who hasn’t swung a club in months.

Fifty-two players took part in 13 groups of four in teams of two on a fourball better ball stableford point basis, with each match worth one point to the winning pair on a matchplay basis.

The stableford score was kept to sort out winning teams. Anyone with a society handicap of over 20 was brought back to that.

The big guns were sent out first and lost, not a great start for us, but in fairness they had to beat a fantastic Crokes score of 49, a tall order. The score ended at 7.5 to 5.5.

We had five wins and five halves and just three losses, with the losing pairs to be named and shamed in my next report.

It was a worthy victory yet again, making the series now six games to two in Taghmon’s favour and three wins in a row now.

There was much celebration had afterwards in what is without doubt our most keenly-fought fixture of the year, and that was nothing compared to the battles to get on a team as we had a surplus of players over the Crokes. Meeting after meeting was held to to see who was available and who would play with who to make up the best pairings.

There was even a sacrificial lamb thrown in against a really good Crokes pairing in an effort to not take the chance of these two beating one of our better pairs and resigning to the loss instead.

I am so glad to report that the piece of mutton stood on the 18th tee-box with the match one up (and that after carrying the ‘Wicklow’ man around all day) but unfortunately came in with a half and only for a four-point birdie chip in from off the green by the Crokes six handicapper on the par five 18th, would have come in with a win.

And these people think they can pick a team!

Our man Tony Kelly, with a foot in both camps as usual, was M.C., and once he sorted out his metres from his inches we had the following results:

1, Billy Noctor and Richie Stakelum (KC), 49; 2, Colm Maher and Jim Ryan (KC), 47; 3, Seamus McLoughlin and Ian Daniels (T), 46 (back nine); front nine, Peter Marshall and Leo Murphy (T), 26; back nine, Ryan Cashin and Noel Kendrick (T), 24; nearest the pin: 4th, Martin Byrne (KC); 8th, Leo Murphy (T); 11th, Fiachra O’Connor (KC); 17th, Nicholas Cousins (T).

Well done and congratulations to all the players who participated because at the end of the day it was indeed a team effort and everyone played their part.

Even those who didn’t bring in a point added something to the day.

To those that didn’t travel, you don’t know what you missed. Roll on next year.

Many, many thanks to Tony Kelly for all his behind the scenes work in organising this event once again.

With cup in hand, we rolled into The Bailey in Enniscorthy where some serious pints were drank. Complimentary nibbles helped to soak up the black stuff, the day was analysed in great detail, and the wind-ups started - great craic!

It was lucky that Ophelia stormed in the next day as it gave those that couldn’t go to work the chance to nurse the hangover.