Jimmy Bruen Championship 2008

Jimmy Bruen Shield Champions 2008

Back Row L-R: Turlough Considine, Frank Kellett, Sean Stone, Philip Duffy, Michael Fahy, Niall Lyons, Tony Stanley,
Sean Quinn, Tim O'Connell, Dave Collins, Mark Brennan, Stephen Kealy, Conor Harrington and Tommy McCarthy.

Front Row L-R: Barry Moran (Bulmers), Aidan Foy (Vice-Captain), Tony Wall (President), Seamus Smith (Gen. Sec. GUI), Brian Looby (Co-Manager), Barry Doyle (President GUI), Martin Cahill (Captain), Brendan Foy (Co-Manager), Michael Kellett, and Neal O'Flynn.

The mention of Friday 19th and Saturday 20th September 2008 may remind some people of the Ryder Cup played at Valhalla G.C., Kentucky, but for those playing for, managing and supporting our Jimmy Bruen team; a much bigger event was taking place at Monkstown Golf Club in Cork on that sunny weekend. There the G.U.I. All-Ireland finals were taking place and our team, as provincial winners, was representing Leinster in the semi -final against the Ulster representatives Co. Cavan G.C. The other semi-final was contested by the host club Monkstown, representing Munster who were celebrating their centenary year and Strandhill G.C. the representatives from Connacht.

Way back in June our team was the leading stroke play qualifier, by 6 shots, to emerge from Corrstown G.C. On the way to the semi-final, playing match play, they had disposed of some other qualifiers with ease namely, Westmanstown G.C., Howth G.C., Callan G.C. and Castlewarden G.C. Our team, under the stewardship of; co-managers Brian Looby and Brendan Foy and overall team co-ordinator Turlough Considine, consisted of a blend of experience and youth and were undaunted by the task that lay ahead of them. Although the team co-managers were quietly confident that our strong team could do well, nothing was taken for granted and several trial matches and practice sessions were arranged in the weeks leading up to the finals, including a practice round at the venue for the final. The services of our PGA Professional, Eamonn Brady, were also called upon to further hone the skills of our players and build their confidence. By the time the teams set off for Cork on Wednesday 17th September, for their two official practice rounds, the team co-managers were happy with the preparation and commitment of their players.

By the time our team had teed off in the semi-final on Friday 19th, the Monkstown team was well on its way to victory in the other semi-final against Strandhill. They eventually went on to win their first three matches by large margins 4/3, 8/6, and 6/5 to record an easy 4/1 win to put them into the final. Many Clontarf members travelled down to Cork to attend the match and support our team including our President Tony Wall and Captains Martin Cahill and Cecily Weymes. Back at the Club members were kept informed of our team's progress throughout the afternoon as match progress reports were posted on the internet by the G.U.I. Although our match was tight enough throughout the front nine our players gradually seized their opportunities as tension mounted on the back nine. Clontarf had won the first two matches 3/1 and 4/3 by the time Michael Kellett and Neal O'Flynn read the break on the putt for the 15-year-old youngster O'Flynn to hole at the 20th and win the all-important third match for the team to record a 4/1 victory and send the Club into its first male GUI National Final.

So the scene was set for the final on the following day and Clontarf was pitted against the host team Monkstown who were hot favourites and were brimming with confident after their easy semi-final win. Many other members travelled down on the day to add their support and augment our supporters who had stayed in Cork overnight. Needless to say, we were still overwhelmingly outnumbered by the local support which manifested itself in a sea of yellow lining each fairway and around each green. Playing any team on their 'own patch' is never easy but to have to do it in a National Final in front of such massive home support calls for tremendous team spirit and confidence. The character and make-up up of our team was about to be tested in a partisan arena. The start time was delayed by approx. two hours due to early morning fog which cleared to bright sunshine. The Clontarf team co-managers, Brian Looby and Brendan Foy, made one change to the pairings from the previous day whilst the Monkstown pairings remained unchanged.

Clontarf got off to a good start with four of our pairings winning the first hole but there was still a long way to go. By the turn most matches were tight but we had our noses ahead and as we moved onto the crucial holes our players stood up to the plate and played great golf, particularly our youngsters who showed maturity and calmness beyond their years. These youngsters are a testament to the policy and support adopted by the Club towards Junior golf. Our 4th pairing of Michael Kellett and Neal O'Flynn wrapped up a 6/5 win to put Clontarf's first point on the board. Michael Fahy and Sean Stone, who were playing at No. 2 and were drafted in for the final, in place of Dave Collins and Philip Duffy who had played in the semi-final, doubled the advantage with a 3/1 win. With the pressure mounting and the finishing line in sight, our No. 1 pairing of Mark Brennan (20) and Niall Lyons (16) was to provide the drama. They were 1down with three to play but they got back on level terms in their match at the 16th when young Lyons holed a 20' swinging putt. With their confidence rising the pair went on to win 17 and 18 - three holes in a row - to close out the deciding match by 2 holes. Conor Harrington and Tim O'Connell, playing at No. 3, halved their match as did Stephen Kealy and Tony Stanley who were anchoring the team. As soon as their last putt was conceded on the 18th the celebrations by our supporters started. There was a lot of hugging and kissing as well as relief and joy. The co-managers' bold policy in selecting five young players between 15 and 21 years of age was rewarded and vindicated. Club history had been made as we won our first male National Final. Congratulations to all concerned.

Our only other National pennant was won by our Irish Mixed Foursomes team back in 1973.