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| Back L-R: Jim McCauley President, Nicky Murphy, Ray O'Connor, John
Hayden, Mark Kavanagh, Murt Mangan, Jason Rackard, Nigel Cullen, Joe
Wilson, Mark Murphy, Jim Delaney Teams manager, Robert Ronan. Front L-R: Liam Spratt Manager, Robert Browne Jnr, Captain Gerry O'Connor, Leinster GUI Chairman Kevin McIntyre (Ardee), Richard 'Butch' O'Connor Manager, Martin Sludds. |
Enniscorthy Golf Club Co. Wexford was the venue last Saturday, Sept 3rd for a classic encounter between the locals and Dunmurry Springs (Kildare) in the FBD Barton Cup final second leg. Enniscorthy were facing their opponents with stark odds, trailing by four matches to one after the first leg in Dunmurry. It was going to be a Herculean effort for the team to win five of their five matches at home or at best win four and bring the last match to a play-off and victory. It was a challenge the Enniscorthy team had prepared for in the intervening two weeks led by the same management team of Richard 'Butch' O'Connor, Lianm Spratt and Jim Delaney that saw them win the cup in '08. Now they were seeking to overturn this apparently insurmountable task. This was their Everest. First out were Jason Rackard and Thomas Browne Junior and they picked up the gauntlet and tore into the fray with some exquisite golf and were always in command. Their win early in play on the 15th brought the first smell of victory and Enniscorthy felt the revival. Next into battle were Martin Sludds and Nigel Cullen who were facing formidable opponents, possibly the best pairing of the Dunmurry team, and were trailing by five holes through nine. They had to dig deep and holeby-hole they got themselves back into the game and were one down playing the 18th. Both pairs had excellent approach shots and both had possible birdie putts. Enniscorthy were to putt first and Nigel Cullen, with nerves of steel, slotted the putt home as the local supporters erupted as they were looking at going up the 19th. However, Dunmurry's golfer still had to putt and again he showed why they had reached the final for consecutive years when he calmly made the putt for a birdie and that match. The teams now stood at five games to four overall and another loss for Enniscorthy would see them crashing out of the final and defeat. Enniscorthy are made of strong stuff and the months of matches, training and discipline began to show. Mark Murphy and Joe Wilson started with a half on the first hole and from then on proceeded to dominate with a standard of golf rarely seen in FBD Barton Cup matches and brought in their opponents early in play 6/5 to put the pressure back on Dunmurry. Next were Murt Mangan and Mark Kavanagh and they were engaged in a see-saw battle, with only one hole between them through the first nine, but then they gradually gained the upper hand with an aggressive brand of golf and went on to win the match comfortably three up. Now the whole match balanced on a knife edge with the standing at five to Dunmurry and four to Enniscorthy. It's the stuff of legends and tales of the encounter will be repeated and modified as the months and years progress. Which of the final pairings could stand up to the heat of this pivotal battle? It took a several hours of exhibition golf from both sides, with the Enniscorthy pair of Nicky Murphy and Robert Ronan equal to the challenge. A pairing who had never lost a home FBD Barton Cup game, they were determined and the lead of one hole changing from one pair to the other took them until the 20th hole, the second par four, before they finally put the Dunmurry pair to the sword and Enniscorthy then faced the daunting task of a play-off. This was to be played over three holes on a matchplay basis, and Enniscorthy had nominated Jason Rackard and Thomas Browne for this task. John Long, the Golfing Union of Ireland official, was on hand and the decision for the play-off was made and it was to be played over the second, the third par three and the fourth par five. This would be the final test and again both Rackard and Browne were equal to all the pressure of this scenario. With hundreds of supporters from both camps looking on, they won the first play-off hole to rapturous applause. On the par three, both teams hit the green and had birdie putts and both holed out in three. Down the last play-off hole, Enniscorthy held the advantage with a wonderful drive by Browne and Rackard hit his second shot to just 20 yards of the green. Dunmurry were now in serious trouble and when Browne chipped on to ten feet and Rachard nearly got the birdie all was over for Dunmurry. Seven hours of the most dramatic and wonderful exhibition of golf was enjoyed by all who witnessed it. For Dunmurry, their second defeat at the final hurdle in this FBD Barton Cup final was a very bitter pill to swallow but with dignity and style they took their defeat and promised to get back to the drawing board and push on with all the experience gained. Enniscorthy meanwhile were celebrating their second Barton Cup win. In reserve and on the extended panel were Ray O'Connor and John Hayden who featured in earlier matches in this, the most prestigious men's tournament in Leinster. The condition of the course was the praise of all the competitors and visitors, and thanks to Michael Dee, Course Manager, and P J Dempsey and his grounds staff for their efforts in preparing the course for this classic encounter. The men now prepare for the final of the Chartis sponsored Barton Shield next week in Castlerock Links - can they make it a Barton Double? GUI Report: Dunmurry Springs travelled to Enniscorthy with high hopes of winning the 2011 FBD Barton Cup, following securing a 4/1 lead after the the 1st leg at home on the 20th August. Unfortunately, for the second year in a row they lost at the final hurdle. It was a match of high drama with golf of an exceptional quality under the most tension filled atmosphere. Enniscorthy required to win 4 matches to bring the game into extra tie holes. This they did when their final pairing won their game on the 20th hole. In the first game Jason Rackard & Thomas Browne were level par when beating Aidan Kelly & Andy Kavanagh 4/3. (Enniscorthy 2 Dunmurry Springs 4). In the second game the pendulum swung in favour of Dunmurry when Sean Maloney & Robbie McNamara defeated Martin Sludds & Nigel Cullen by 1 hole, the 18th being halved in birdie 3's. Enniscorthy had come from 4 down in this game. (Enniscorthy 2 Dunmurry Springs 5) In the third game Mark Murphy & Joe Wilson were never in trouble against Ian Moore & Darren Carey winning 7/6. (Enniscorthy 3 Dunmurry Springs 5 ). In the fourth game Murt Mangan & Mark Kavanagh defeated Sean O' Gallochoir & Padraic Kelly 3/2.( Enniscorthy 4 Dunmurry Springs 5). All attention now turned now to the final game in which Nicky Murphy & Robert Ronan were playing Will Smith & Conan Noone. The game was some way behind the others at this stage. It never had more than one hole in it and the players now knew that the FBD Barton rested on their shoulders. If Dunmurry Springs won the game the cup was theirs, Enniscorthy had to win to bring the match into extra holes. Enniscorthy went 1up on the 16th when making par, the 17th was halved in par and Dunmurry brought the game into extra time by making 3 on the par 4 18th hole. The 19th was halved in bogey. Enniscorthy won the game on the 20th when Dunmurry Springs failed to get up and down from the left side of the green. (Enniscorthy 5 Dunmurry Springs 5) The match now went into a 3 hole play off where the nominated pairings renewed their rivalry over the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes. On the first play off hole the Enniscorthy pairing of Jason Rackard & Thomas Browne made par where the Dunmurry Springs pairing of Aidan Kelly & Andy Kavanagh found trouble off the tee and could only make bogey. The third and fourth holes were halved in par giving Enniscorthy the FBD Barton Cup by 1 hole. I doubt that in the long history of the Barton Cup could there have been a more thrilling final. Our congratulations to both teams for an enthralling days sport.
