Dundalk go in search of third Barton Cup success

​Dundalk Golf Club will go in search of a third Barton Cup success over the next two weekends when they face Portarlington in the two-legged final of this competition which is confined to Leinster Golf Clubs.
It also one of the oldest inter-club competitions having been first played for in 1905 – the year Dundalk Golf Club was founded – and Dundalk will be hoping to repeat the successful campaigns of 1961 and 1999. 
The format is foursomes with a combined handicap of 14.0 or higher and is played off scratch.
The first leg takes place this Saturday in Dundalk with the five matches teeing off at ten minute intervals from 11:40 while the second leg in Portarlington on Saturday, September 19, will start at 12 noon.
Having received a bye in the first round Dundalk beat neighbours Ardee 3-2 in the second round and then defeated County Louth 3.5 to 1.5 in the third round. That was followed by a 3-2 victory over Forrest Little before accounting for St Anne’s by 3.5 to 1.5 in the quarter-finals. That set up a semi-final clash with Old Conna with Dundalk coming out impressive 4-1 winner to reach the final.
Portarlington, who won the competition for the first time in 1950, started their campaign with a 3-2 win over Edenderry before beating Mountrath 3.5 to 1.5. A 3-2 win over neighbours Portlaoise followed before they beat Esker Hills by 3.5 to 1.5 in the last 16. Kilkenny were dispatched 3.5 to 1.5 in the quarter-final before a 3-2 win over Bray booked their place in the final.
Having used 17 players on their way to the final Dundalk manager Derek Murdock and his assistant Mickey Coburn will have plenty of options when it comes to selecting their five pairings and it is hope that there will be plenty of home support at this Saturday’s home leg.
Dundalk Barton Cup 2026 Panel: Billy Cairns, John Paul Casey, Paolo Cordiano, Barry Cunningham, Dennis Cunningham, Padraig Hassett, Adrian Kenny, Gary Lennon, Nicholas MacShane, Tony McGuinness, John McKeever, Conall Murdock, Conor Murphy, Pearse Murphy, Conor Murray, Maurice Soraghan, Aidan Thornton.