Warrenpoint in seventh heaven in Barton Shield
COLM Campbell might have won two amateur “majors” but there’s nothing quite like winning with your pals.
“I said it last year; there is no better feeling than winning as a club,” Campbell Jnr said. “It’s a great feeling to pick up another All Ireland gold medal. When it comes to foursomes in Barton Shield, we just know how to win it and the lads played well.”
Warrenpoint retained the AIG Barton Shield with a four-hole win over Galway — handing the Connacht champion’s their third successive defeat in the elite foursomes event.
But they admitted it was their team spirit and ability to pick themselves up after losing to Royal Portrush in the Ulster semi-finals of the AIG Senior Cup that clinched the title for them
“The Senior Cup was a massive loss for us,” team captain Colm Campbell Snr said of Reavey’s 24th hole defeat in the decisive Senior Cup game. “Paul has a knack of getting us through, but it wasn’t to be.
“But he is one of our top players and for us to bounce back from the disappointment of the Senior Cup and go out the following weekend and win the Ulster side of the Barton Shield, just shows the tremendous commitment the boys have to the club.” Warrenpoint have now won the AIG Barton Shield seven times since 1987 and with Campbell winning the Flogas Irish Amateur Open last year and Jamie Fletcher this year’s AIG Irish Amateur Close, there is clearly something special in the air at the Co Down club. “It’s great [to be part of a special group],” Reavey said. “Even though we are getting towards our late 20s and early 30s now, we have a lot of experience of playing Barton Shield and Senior Cup. “It stands us in great stead when it comes down to the crunch. “They are a great bunch of lads and you know that you can always depend on them.”