Narin & Portnoo Golf Notes 18th May 2009

Narin and Portnoo struck gold last Sunday when Nan and Noel Quinn’s mixed foursomes team qualified third in a tournament in Bundoran. After years of hardly ever qualifying for the matchplay stages of any Ulster tournament and, indeed, neglecting this particular event, the club has now done the business for the second week running, following our previous qualification in the Pierce Purcell competition. The captains dispensed with the usual selection routine and the fresh approach reaped spectacular dividends, with all ten players earning their spot on the team through current form. Leading the charge were the pairings of Gráinne Cafferty and Harold Reid and Nan herself and Donie McCole. They both shot fine 74s in terrible conditions and were ably supported by the other three pairings: Mairtín Ó hIarnáin and Margaret Roarty; Dominic Mullin and May McCann; and Seamus McDonagh and Margaret Murphy. Mrs. Murphy was a playing member of the team which qualified on the only other previous occasion in 1990, while it proved a double celebration for the Roarty household as Margaret’s husband, Martin was a member of the leading qualifying team, Strabane. Narin and Portnoo will now meet Newtownstewart in the matchplay stage and this tussle will take place in Bundoran within the next three weeks. Letterkenny filled the final position on the day and now face Strabane.

Two holes in one were achieved by members last week, with Finín Mac a’ Bháird and Eamon McGill reducing holes to a single shot. The former got lucky at Millicent Golf Club in Co. Kildare, rattling in an eight-iron at the 4th to bemused silence from his startled playing partners. The jocular Gortnacart school-master won the sixteenth hole at Narin without a dissenting voice (for a change) from his wizened fourball opponents, courtesy of a finely-struck short iron or driver, the club’s actual identity depending on whether one believes the victor or vanquished.

The club’s Ulster Fourball team have left themselves a lot to do after only picking up two and a half matches at home to Portsalon. Pat Connaghan and Kevin McCready enjoyed a romping 8 and 6 victory in their match, while Patrick Gallagher and Connell Gavigan also won for Narin. Hugh F. Shovlin and Paddy B. Boyle scored a crucial half in their tussle, while Manus Boyle and Sean McGinley and Frank and Paul McGinley will be eager to go one better in the return leg.

During last week’s notes, I inadvertently identified James McGinley instead of James Keeney as the successful playing partner for Bart Whelan during the club’s successful qualifying for the Pierce Purcell matchplay stage. It could have been worse…I could have paired Bart with George!

Gerard McCabe has returned to the fold and already he is setting the golf world alight! His victory in Wednesday’s Open was a splendid effort, his scorecard containing 21 points out and 19 on the way home, garnished with a birdie at the last.

Gerard continued his good form into Sunday’s competition sponsored by Killybegs G.A.A. with a third place finish behind Francie Cunningham. The latter enjoyed a most fruitful round of pars with fourteen of the little beauties adorning his card. The one blemish was a thorny nine at the tenth, a card-wrecker of a hole if ever there was one. It didn’t prove fatal on this occasion and Francie proved a worthy winner.

Saturday’s competition (3TS & Canon Devlin Cup) was postponed due to the poor weather and will be played at a later date.

We sympathise with Des Woods on the recent passing of his wife, Ann. May she rest in peace. We also send our condolences to the McDwyer family on the recent death of Dan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Results:

May 13: 1. Gerard McCabe (17) 40; 2. Sean McGinley (18) 36 b.o.t.; 3. Pat Cunningham (16) 36; Twos: 4 balls each; Hole-in-one: Eamon McGill @ 16th hole, 11 balls, C.S.S. 73

May 17: Killybegs G.A.A. 1. Francie Cunningham (11) 70; 2. Neily Gildea (11) 71; 3. Gerard McCabe (16) 72; Cat A Fr. Adrian Gavigan (9) 74; Cat B Pauric McHugh (11) 74; Cat C John Callaghan (23) 72; Nines: Pat Gallagher (18) 32; Seamus Gildea (24) 35; CSS 74; Twos: 2 balls each

Fixtures:

The details of upcoming competitions may be viewed on the club website, which is currently being renovated. The revised draws for second rounds of the matchplay competitions are also available online.

May 23: Ardara Golf Society outing in Narin and Portnoo, 9a.m. start, visitor prize on offer for Charlie et al.

May 24: Mickey’s Express Stop, single stableford, open

May 27: Wednesday Open, ladies and gents, single stableford, 15 euro entry for G.U.I. visitors including green fee