McEneanEy holds off O'Reilly to win Captain's Prize

Eamon McEneaney held off the challenge of Paul O’Reilly to win Ultan Herr’s Captain’s Prize in tough conditions on Sunday afternoon.
McEneaney, playing off 18, led the field into the final round after shooting a 65 nett  in the qualifying round the previous weekend.
Four pars and birdie on the front nine saw him go out in 31 nett and three more pars down the back nine saw him come home in 34 nett to finish on seven under par nett.
As a former senior inter-county footballer and manager, McEneaney had plenty of big game experience to draw on as he teed off in the final group and he opened with six solid bogeys before dropping a shot with a double bogey at the seventh.
However, he got that back with a birdie on the ninth to turn in 35 nett and a par at the 11th and a birdie at the 14th saw him move to 11 under par nett for the competition.
Disaster struck at the difficult par four 15th, which was playing into a three-club wind. He walked off with a 10 and dropped to six under par nett opening the door for O’Reilly who had started the day on two-under nett but turned on one-under par nett.
Playing off 23, O’Reilly was burning up the back nine having parred 11, 12, 13 and 16 to move to seven under nett but he dropped back to six under-nett after a double bogey six at the last.
That left him tied with McEneaney, who was still out on the course. McEneaney, drawing on all his experiences, showed great character in responding to his disaster at the 15th by finishing bogey-par-bogey to move to seven-under par nett and nudge ahead of O’Reilly to claim his first Captain’s Prize.
Paul O’Callaghan (14) was a shot further back in third after an excellent four under par 68 in the second round edging out Mark McDonnell and Ross Kehoe on countback for that podium place.
Caolan Rafferty with rounds of 69 and 73 was the gross winner in 142, six ahead of Ben Cahill while Frank Byrne (15) took the Veteran’s Prize and George Rogers (28) claimed the Super Veteran’s Prize.
The prizes were presented by Captain Ultan Herr in a packed Clubhouse on Sunday evening with many tributes being paid to the Captain for his leadership and contribution during the year.

Saturday, June 27, Sunday June 28 and Sunday, August 4 - Captain Ultan Herr’s Prize – 36 Hole Stroke – Overall: 137 - Eamon McEneaney (18) 65/72. 138 – Paul O’Reilly (23) 70/68; 139 – Paul O’Callaghan (14) 71/68; Mark McDonnell (21) 71/68; Ross Kehoe (18) 67/72. Gross: Caolan Rafferty 142, Ben Cahill 148. Division 1: John Sharkey (8) 142 (71/71). Division 2: Laurence O’Hanlon (17) 142 (75/67). Division 3: Tommy McDonnell (24) 141 (73/68). Saturday Qualifier – Overall: Flyn Kiernan (16) 64. Division 1: Graeme Smith (6) 69. Division 2: Malcolm Drake (18) 66. Division 3: John McKenna (25) 69. Gross: Shane Hession (3) 74. Sunday Qualifier – Overall: Sean Gallagher (12) 66. Division 1: Sean Hession (13) 69. Division 2: Sean McErlean (16) 71. Division 3: Conor Boyle (25) 69. Gross: Aidan Lawless (4) 74. Sunday (18 Holes) - Overall: Noel Reid (21) 69. Division 1: John Neary (9) 69, Eoin Hamill (12) 69. Division 2: Brendan Keane (13) 70, Ciaran Dunne (19) 71. Division 3: John McLaughlin (23) 71. Gary O’Brien (23) 71.