The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Charleville Golf Club hosted the Special Olympics Ireland – Munster annual golf competition recently. This year’s competition attracted the largest number of clubs yet to the event.
In addition to the Ennis Golf Club Special Olympics team, the other clubs represented were CoAction Beara, Copstown from Mallow, Waterford, Laochra Arran from Tipperary, Cork Golf Club, St Joseph’s from Charleville, Cope Foundation Mallow, Cope Foundation Cork, Kerry Fairways, CoAction Bantry and Bros of Charity from Limerick.
The 12 athletes representing Ennis were accompanied by a similar number of volunteers from the club’s membership. A grand total of 103 golfers participated in the tournament. Leading the Ennis charge was veteran golfer Tommy Kenny, who showed all his experience in taking the gold medal in the strokeplay nine-hole division M01 competition.
Paul Kirrane’s steady improvement this year reaped rewards when he, partnered by Pat Rutherford, took the gold medal in one of the most competitive of the events, the alternate shot team play division C02, which featured four Ennis teams. This event also produced a bronze medal for Ennis’s John Ryan, who was partnered by Seamus Hanrahan and finished just two shots off the gold. The other Ennis teams, Owen McDonagh with Pat O’Reilly and Adrian O’Neill with Derek Kinsella finished fifth and sixth respectively.
The top division in the alternate shot team play had two Ennis teams, with Sean O’Neill partnered by his brother PJ taking the silver medal.
Mairéad Moroney, who was partnered by Kitty Morris, was delighted to be in the top division and finished a creditable fourth. Newcomer Ian Manton, with partner Larry Parkes, made a great impression when taking the silver medal in the alternate shot team play division C03.
Shane McGuire from Kilkee, a previous winner in the nine-hole strokeplay division D01 competition, had to be happy on this occasion to take the silver medal when he was beaten by long-time rival Trudy Hyland from Cork. In the same event, Ennis’s Michael Lynch finished in sixth position.
Peter Kavanagh’s debut in the 18-hole strokeplay competition was rewarded with a bronze medal, despite not getting the “rub of the green” throughout the day. Katie Flynn won the bronze medal when she competed in the division 1 individual skills event and this brought the Ennis club’s team medal tally to, two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
The good news for all the medal winners is that they will qualify for selection to represent Munster in the Ireland Games to be held in Limerick next summer.
The presence of the recent Voice of Ireland winner, Keith Hanley in Charleville, added a showbiz factor to the tournament. Keith entertained the crowd with a rendition of his new release and did so without any musical backing, to the great appreciation of everyone.
He later took a leading role in the awards presentation.
Ennis Golf Club will host the Special Olympics Regional Skills Competition on Monday next, June 10, with 50 athletes and over 40 volunteers involved.
This event, which will run from 9.30am to 4pm, will coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ireland hosting the World Special Olympics and this will be commemorated on the day.
