The various club matchplay competitions have now concluded and the presentations will take place on Saturday, November 9.
After beating Sean Hession in the semi-final Denis Cunningham won the Gold Medal with a win over Captain’s Prize winner Eamonn McEneaney. McEneaney had defeated Gary O’Brien in his semi-final.
In the semi-finals of the Carolan Cup Aidan Thornton beat Sean Gallagher while Richard Copas defeated Cameron Kilcoyne and it was Thornton who came out on top in the final.
That deprived Copas of a unique matchplay treble as he beat Conor Byrne in the Harry Walsh Cup final and then partnered Malcom Drake to beat Mark Gorham and Tony McGuinness in the final of the Gents Foursomes.
Captain Ultan Herr and his wife Deborah beat Maura Coyle and Vincent Conlon to win the Club Mixed Foursomes

Visitor Gavin Erasmus, a 24 handicapper from Mannan Castle, won last Wednesday’s McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford on countback from Padraig Hassett after both had tied on 38pts.
Despite blanking his opening two holes, Erasmus went out in 17pts helped by three point returns at the third, fifth and eighth. He shot 21pts down the back nine with a four-point par at the 15th and back to back three-point pars at the 10th and 11th.
Hassett, who was playing off 14, had a solid round, out in 19pts and back in 19pts with a round that included six three-pointers, one of which was for a birdie four at the par five sixth.
​Hassett took Division 1 while Danny Gallagher (19) won Division 2 and Eugene Hanratty (28) claimed Division 3. Ciaran Johnston with 35pts had the best gross.
Wednesday, 09 October - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford - Overall (Mannan Castle) Gavin Erasmus (24, Mannan Castle) 38/21. Division 1: Padraig Hassett (14) 38/19pts. Division 2: Daniel Gallagher (19) 36pts. Division 3: Eugene Hanratty (28) 36pts. Gross Recognition Ciaran Johnston 35pts.

Desmond Malone held off the challenge of Captain Ultan Herr to win the latest round in the Cathedral Finance Autumn Singles Series over the first weekend of October.
The 26-handicapper produced a round made up of two and three point returns as he went out in 21pts and came home in 23pts. He had a four point return for a par at the difficult par-four 15th while there were three-point gains at the third, sixth, eighth, 10th, 13th and 16th.
After shooting 19pts on the front nine, Captain Ultan, playing off 16, was two over par gross down the back nine but just came up short despite collecting 43pts. He had a four-point birdie on 10 and six three-point pars from the turn but ultimately it was the one-point returns from a double bogey five at the 13th and a bogey five at short 14th that ultimately cost him.
 Paul Murphy (4), Conor McGowan (17) and Eamonn Arthur (23) were the three divisional winners while Murphy with 38pts recorded the best gross score.
Saturday, 5 October and Sunday, 6 October - Cathedral Financial Autumn Series Singles Stableford – Overall: Desmond Malone (26) 44pts, Ultan Herr 1(16) 43pts. Division 1: Paul Murphy (4) 41pts, Niall Boyle (10) 38pts. Division 2: Conor McGowan (17) 37/21pts. Paschal Keenan (16) 37/20pts. Division 3: Eamonn Arthur (23) 40/22pts, David McDonnell (20) 40/19pts. Gross: Paul Murphy 38pts.

The McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford on October 2 kicked off the new month and saw Brendan McElarney (33) beat Patrick Boland (32) on countback to take the overall prize.
After going out in 17pts McElarney shot 20pts down the back nine, picking up 10pts over the final four holes for a total of 37pts. Boland also had 37pts but lost on countback as his back nine total was  19pts and he also wasn’t helped by a blank on the par three fifth. Boland had to settle for winning Division 3 while Liam cGailey (12) and Martin McDonnell (18) took Division 1 and 2 respectively. Joseph Laverty with 33pts had the best gross score.
Wednesday, 2 October - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Brendan McElarney (33) 37pts/20. Division 1: Liam McGailey (12) 35pts. Division 2: Martin McDonnell (18) 35pts. Division 3: Patrick Boland (32) 37/19pts. Gross: Joseph Laverty 33pts.

Six birdies propelled Richard Newell to victory in the latest round of the Cathedral Financial Autumn Series.
Playing off two, Newell shot 40pts to edge out Peter McGinnity (16) by one point. He went out in 19 points helped by three point birdies at the third and seventh and came home in 21pts after three-point birdies at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th.
McGinnity also went out in 19pts thanks to three point pars at the second and fifth and a four point birdie at the ninth. He picked up four three-pointers on the way home at the 10th, 13th, 17th and 18th but a blank at the index two par four 11th meant he came up one point short of matching Newell.
Shaun Callan (12), Gordon Corry (16) and Paul Durnin (29) took the divisional honours while Caolan Rafferty recorded the best gross with 38pts.  
Sunday, 29 September 2024 - Cathedral Financial Autumn Series Singles Stableford – Overall: Richard Newell (2) 40pts, Peter McGinnity (16) 39pts. Division 1: Shaun Callan (12) 37pts, Edward Rogers (4) 36pts. Division 2: Gordon Corry (16) 39pts, Tommy Renaghan (18) 38pts. Division 3: Paul Durnin (29) 39pts, Harry O'Hanrahan (30) 38pts. Gross Recognition: Caolan Rafferty 38pts

The Gents Committee will be having their Autumn Gents Prize Presentation on Sunday 29 September at 6pm. 

It would be great to see as many members as we can in the clubhouse on Sunday. The Presentation will include prizes for the following competitions:

House Committee Cup - 10/11 August 
Jubilee Cup - 17/18 August
Singles Stableford - 30 August/1 September
Knights of Malta - 7/8 September
Singles Stableford - 15 September
Singles Stableford - 21/22 September

A memorable run of parring all holes on the back nine for 23 points took Ciaran Daly (10) over the line to claim the winner’s slot in the mid-week McKenna Man Open Singles 18 holes Stableford Competition with a final tally of 43 points.
 
His opening nine of 20 points was highlighted by birdies at the par four second and par three ninth for three-pointers, and he also gained three points at the par four third hole. On the closing nine his remarkable run of pars on all the holes saw him accumulate five three-pointers and four two-pointers to come home in 23 points.
 
His closest challenge came from President Gerry Campbell (28) who, after turning on 19 points, also produced his best golf on the closing nine. Beginning with a run of three pointers from the 10th to the 13th holes, he added another three points at the par four 16th hole, to come home in 23 points.

With 42 points Gerry had to settle for the Division 3 winner’s prize. The other divisional winners were Joseph Laverty (0) and Paul Morgan (19).
 
Wednesday, 25 September - McKenna Man Open 18-Hole Singles Stableford – Overall: Ciaran Daly (10) 43pts. Division 1: Joseph Laverty (0) 38 pts. Division 2: Paul Morgan (19) 36pts. Division 3: Gerry Campbell (28) 42pts. Gross Recognition: Joseph Laverty 38pts.

​The IJM Match Play Scratch Cup Finals were held over the weekend of September  21 and 22 and were contested by the top four in each of the four IJM Golfer of the Year categories.
The Senior Cup was won by Conall Murdock who, after seeing off Ciaran Traynor in the semi-final, faced tough opposition in the final against Aidan Lawless who had won a tense battle with Paul Murphy which was only decided on the 18th. In the final Conall continued his fine form over the weekend by winning the first hole and although Aidan fought hard to keep in touch Conall eventually won 3 & 2.
Billy Cairns won the Junior Cup after an exciting final against Brian Fennelly which he eventually won 2&1. Billy had beaten Eddie Rogers in the semi-final while Brian had seen off the challenge off Terry Conlon.
Having won the Gold Medal for the Club’s major matchplay competition Dennis Cunningham was favourite to take the Intermediate Cup but he had to fight all the way against Senan Duffy in the semi-final. Duffy led for most of the match but Cunningham finally got the better of him on the 20th. In the other semi-final Ken Norton also had a tough battle against Sean Gallagher whom he eventually beat on the 19th. In the final Dennis won the first hole and never lost the lead eventually closing the match out on the 17th for a 3 & 1 win.
Robert McCaughey won the Minor Cup but he too had to fight all the way in his semi-final against Paul Culligan with the match only being decided on the 19th. That earned him a place in the final against Cian Corbett who had beaten two-time Golfer of the Year Brian Crombie in another close match. The final was close over the front nine but Robert pulled away after the turn and eventually won by 4&3.

A back nine of solid, consistent and impressive scoring on all holes was enough to push Gerry Byrne (23) ahead of the chasing field to claim the overall winner’s prize in the weekend Cathedral Financial Autumn Series 18 Hole Stableford Competition with 43 points.
 
Gerry had an up and down opening nine, boosted by a run of five three-pointers in a row from the third to the seventh holes, to reach the turn on 19 points. He produced his best golf on the closing nine, parring the par five 10th hole, the par three 13th and 17th holes, and the par four 14th and 15th holes, all for three-pointers. He also tagged on another three points at the par four 16th hole, and scored two-pointers at the other holes to come home with 24 points.
 
He just edged out Fearghal Duffy (16) who, after reaching the turn ion 17 points, also
produced some exceptional golf on the closing nine, birding the par five 10th and par
four 16th holes for four-pointers, as well as racking up three-pointers at the 12th, 14th
and 17th holes to finish the nine with 25 points. However, his final tally of 42 points
meant he had to settle for the runners up position.
 
The divisional winners were Aidan McBride (13), Oisin McBride (17) and Gavin McDonnell (22).
 
Saturday, 21 September and Sunday, 22 September - Cathedral Financial Autumn 18 Holes Singles Stableford Series – Overall: Gerry Byrne (23) 43pts. Fearghal Duffy (16) 42pts. Division 1: Aidan McBride (13) 41pts, Barry Cunningham (8) 39 pts. Division 2: Oisin McBride (17) 40 pts, Kenneth Lynch (15) 39pts. Division 3: Gavin McDonnell (22) 41pts, Paul Lynch (21) 40pts. Gross Recognition: Ben Cahill (0) 36pts.