purple patch the key as macguinness wins irwin lockington salver

John MacGuinness held off the challenge of Conor Byrne and Oisin Duff to win the Irwin Lockington Salver over the weekend of May 24 and 25.
Playing off 32, he was steadiness personified as he went out in 22pts and came home in 22pts for a score of 44pts that was one better than his two closest pursuers.
A purple patch midway through the back nine was key to victory for MacGuinness  as he picked up 11pts over three holes with a three-point bogey at the 14th followed by four point pars at the difficult 15th and 16th. His round also included seven three-point bogeys.
After shooting 18pts on the front nine, Conor Byrne (21) came charging through the field down the back nine with a four point birdie at the 17th as well as five three point pars and a three point bogey to come home in 25pts for an overall score of 43pts.
That was matched by Duff (20) who had one four par at the 11th and 10 three pointers but paid a high price for a blank on the par three ninth hole. Not only did it cost him overall victory, he also lost to out to Byrne on countback for the top prize in Division 3.
Richard Barry (12) won Division 1 on countback from Bernard Laverty (9) after both had shot 39pts while David Cairns (15) took Division 2 carded 40pts to take Division 2 by one point from Cathal Purcell (14).  
Birdies at the fifth, 10th and 17th helped Neal MacKell on his way to a gross score of 34pts which was enough to win the gross prize.
Saturday, 24 May and Sunday, 25 May - Irwin Lockington Salver  Singles Stableford – Overall: John MacGuinness (32) 44pts. Gross: Neal MacKell 34pts. Division 1: Richard Barry (12) 39/20pts, Bernard Laverty (9) 39/16pts. Division 2: David Cairns (15) 40pts, Cathal Purcell (14) 39pts. Division 3: Conor Byrne (21) 43pts/25, Oisin Duff (20) 43/23pts.