CHAMPIONS


The All Ireland Pierce Purcell winning team

Letterkenny Golf Club has become all Ireland champions through their team of golfers who won the Pierce Purcell trophy at Tullamore Golf Club today Friday 18^th September.  Yesterday Letterkenny, the Ulster Champions took on Loughrea Golf Club the Connaught champions in the semi finals whom they beat convincingly.

  Today’s final against Leinster champions was a tougher ordeal with the first drive struck at 10.30am and the last putt sunk at 5.00pm. Captain John Russell put out the same pairings today as yesterday. Pat McMonagle & Kieran Sweeney, Brian O’Donnell & Tony McMonagle, John Russell & Kieran Walsh, Ed. Margey & Brendan Roche, and Kenny King & Shane Sweeney. Pat & Kieran took first blood winning match (1) 2 &1. Match 2 went to Corrstown beating Brian & Tony 3 & 2. Letterkenny were up in all three in the back nine after a slow start earlier on. Ed & Brendan in match 4 went on to win 2 holes up on the 18^th, so now it was down to the last two matches 3 with John & Kieran and 5 with Kenny & Shane. Both were all square on the 18^th, and the tension was mounting. Leaving the 19^th green match 5 was still all square.  Then on to the 20^th where Corrstown's skill sealed it.

It was now 2 all with one to go, match 3 still on the course. Team captain John Russell and his team-mate Kieran Walsh were battling away for Letterkenny, all square after 19, all square after 20 all square after 21 sheer nail biting stuff. On the par 5, 22^nd Corrstown started to waver a bit with a wayward drive but still were on the green with a 30ft putt for par and Letterkenny a 5ft putt for par. Corrstown’s putt went 4ft past the hole. Letterkenny slip 18 inches past. Corrstown miss the next putt and Letterkenny sink theirs and the rest is history and its 5 o’clock and time for a pint.

Congratulations and well done to the team the panel and all who were involved. Commiserations to a top class Corrstown team who put up such a battle.