Shannon progress in Pierce Purcell Shield

SHANNON will represent Clare in the North Munster final of the Pierce Purcell Shield after they emerged victorious from the weekend’s competition at Kilkee. In the final, they will face Charleville, who were winners at Adare at the weekend and the game will take place next week.
In their first outing, Shannon accounted for the defending All-Ireland champions Woodstock on a 3-2 scoreline, a result which saw them progress to the semi-final on Sunday morning.
Other winners on Saturday were Ennis who accounted for Lahinch by 3 ½ to 1 ½, Spanish Point who beat Doonbeg 4-1 and Kilkee, who beat Dromoland Castle by 3 ½ to 1 ½. Following their win over Lahinch, Ennis went on to beat Kilrush by 4-1 on Saturday afternoon
In Sunday morning’s semi-finals, Spanish Point were 4-1 winners over Ennis, while Shannon were 3-2 winners over Kilkee. In the final, Shannon had a 3-2 win over Spanish Point.
The Shannon team manager is Mike O’Connor and their panel comprises Eddie Clohessy, Pat Madden, John McPhillips, Mark Dore, Tony Connolly, Kieran Carmody, Pat Halpin, PJ Moroney, Kieran Moloney, Brian Punch, Peter McLoughlin, James O’Flynn, Alan Dunlea, Gerry Breen, Noel Purcell, Adrian Treacy, William O’Brien and Joe McGrath.

Bruen Shield
WOODSTOCK bowed out of the Bruen Shield when they went under to Adare in the North Munster final on Wednesday last. The Limerick club emerged with a 4-1 victory.

Junior foursomes
IN the junior foursomes, East Clare are through to the Munster semi-finals following their success at Limerick on Saturday where they beat Adare Manor.
Other qualifiers for the provincial semi-finals on August 3 at Killorglin are Mallow, Waterford Castle and Tralee

Ennis
IN the ladies’ seniors outing at Ennis last week, the winners were Loretto Torpey, Gert Finn and Mary Collins from Bridie Keane, Susan O’Brien and Mary Hennessy. In third place were Carmel Verling, Pauline Parks, Pat Lacey and Bernie Brooks.
In the monthly medal, Suzanne Deane with 72 won the silver section from Yvonne Keohane on 75, while the bronze section was won by Mary Lenihan with 65 from Patricia O’Donnell.
In the Friday open singles, Cora Kerins was the winner with 36 points from Margaret Lacheiner on 33 points.
The winner of the Friday open for men was Andrew Moloney from East Clare with 40 points from Gerry Daly who had a similar score, Brian O’Gorman with 38 points and Sean Shanahan, also with 38. Bart O’Shaughnessy won the gross with 31 points.
The Teresa Howard Memorial was held on Thursday last, hosted by the club’s men’s senior section. The winner was Pat Cahill with a magnificent score of 45 points. He was followed by Jim Felle on 40, Gerry Gilligan on 40, Tony Kehoe on 40, Michael Kenny on 39, Tim Kelly on 38, TJ Waters on 38, Michael Kerin on 37, Aidan Lynch on 37 and Tom Pender on 37.
The ladies’ section was won by Nancy Burke with 31 points from Eileen Corry on 28, Claire Kenneally on 28,  Phil Butler on 27,  Frances O’Reilly on 26 and Emmanuel McMahon on 24.
The Seniors’ Memorial Day competition (18-hole single Stableford) will be held next Thursday and a timesheet will be in operation from 10.30am to 1.30pm.

Shannon
THE Dr William Flynn Memorial May medal at Shannon was won by Patrick Hickey (14) with 64 from Maurice Egan (17) with 66 with John Boyce (17) in third spot with 67. They were followed by Patrick Downey (21) with 67, Ronan O’Reilly (16) with 68, Brian Quinn (18) with 68 and John Gubbins (14) with 68. Jason O’Donnell (2) won the gross with 74 from Ed Hickey (1) with 75.
In the Wednesday open singles, Noel Purcell (16) won with 42 points from Ed Hickey (2) on 39 and David Begley (11) on 37. Paul Fitzgerald (3) won the gross with 30 points.
In the ladies’ May medal, Maura Mulcahy (2) was the winner with 67 from Mairéad Mannix (20) with 68, Eileen McNamara (24) with 73, Siobhán Moriarty (36) with 74 and Debbie Reddan (15) with 74. Rose Doyle (12) won the gross with 85.

Lahinch
THE ladies’ fourball Stableford competition in aid of the NBCRI was played on the Castle Course last week when the winners were Trish Kelleher from Lahinch and Bobbi Houlihan from Clonmel with 41 points. They beat Cora O’Toole and Mairéad Bergin from Dromoland who had a similar score. In third place on 40 points were Margaret Ann Killeen and Rita O’Brien from Ennis. Marjorie Ahern had the longest drive at the 17th, while Mairéad Bergin won the prize for nearest the pin at the sixth. Marie Carroll had a hole-in-one at the 10th.
In the men’s open on Thursday, the winner was Murt McMahon (9) with 37 points from Mark Butler (12) with a similar score. In third place with 37 points was Ian Quinn (18).
The men’s fourball Stableford competition for the Holmpatrick Cup took place on Saturday when the winners with 41 points were Peter Hennessy and Patrick Glynn.
In a ladies’ singles competition on the Castle Course on Sunday, Elizabeth Abernethy (16) was the winner with 40 points.
The first four in the men’s singles Stableford competition on Sunday all returned 40 points. The winner was Cathal Hegarty (9) from Derek O’Neill (6), Michael  Duffy (14) and Liam Duggan (14). Thomas Neenan won the gross with 38 points. 

Kilrush
THE junior, intermediate and minor scratch cups were played for at Kilrush on Sunday. In the junior competition, the winner was Noel McMahon (9) with 75 from Declan O’Donovan (9) on 80.
Declan Conway (12) won the intermediate competition with 79 from John Saunders (16) with 81.
The winner of the minor competition was Michel Hogan (18) with 86 from Noel Kilkenny (18) with a similar score. Noel Thornton (17) had the best nett with 65.
In the Friday mixed, last week’s winners were Kieran Lillis and Geraldine Burke from John Stapleton and Mary Carmody with third spot filled by John Hehir and Mary O’Sullivan.
Last week’s ladies’ singles at Kilrush was won by Mary Bolton (21) with 41 points from Anne Marie Donnellan (35) with 39 points, Claire Pyne (21) with 38 points and Annie Gallagher (19) with 38 points. The category winners were Margaret Clancy (15 ) with 37 points, Agnes Shannon (21) with 36 points and Ursula Lineen (29) with 35 points.
Meanwhile, the ladies’ minor team has progressed to the next round of the ILGU Inter-club Championship.
In the men’s seniors competition last week, the winners with 68 points were Tom Clarke, Paddy Carmody and Noel Haeir from PJ Maher, Mick Hemmings and Maurice Roche with 63 points. In third spot on 61 points were Tom Cleary, Leo Harvey and Joe Walsh.
The club will host a team-of-three fundraiser this bank holiday Saturday and Sunday and a timesheet will operate. There will be a ladies’ and gents’ 18-hole singles on Bank Holiday Monday.
The weekly mixed will take place this Friday with the draw for partners at 6.15pm, while open week will commence on Friday, June 8 with a mixed competition.

Dromoland
IN the men’s Stableford at Dromoland at the weekend, the winner was Ian Mulready with 38 points from John O’Shaughnessy on 37, Sean Myatt on 37 and Seamus Cusack on 36. Dale Foley won the junior section with 42 points.
The competition this weekend will be a two-person rumble with all proceeds going to the Clare branch of Cystic Fibrosis.
The men’s senior matchplay competition is now into the second round, while the mixed foursomes is now at the semi-final stage.
The Claret Jug draw will be held in the coming week.
Dromoland’s intermediate and minor teams had great success in both their matches at the weekend in Lahinch.
The ladies’ medal competition will take place on this Sunday with the tee available from 10am to 10.30am.

Woodstock
PAT Solan (14) won the monthly medal at Woodstock at the weekend with 67. He had one stroke to spare from Conor Sexton (8) with third spot filled by Frank Neville (10) with 69. The gross was won by Anthony Sweeney (4) with 74.
There will be a club mixed on Thursday with the draw at 5.40pm.
This weekend, the president’s (James Meade) prize will be played for and a timesheet is in operation. There will be an open modified fourball on Monday.
In the ladies’ monthly medal, Joan Barrett was the winner with 76 from Maura Umlawski on 77.
In the club mixed 14-hole scramble, the winners were Liam McInerney, Patsy Nugent and Brian J Aherne from Martin Dormer, Kathleen McMahon and Rosie Heaslip.
The minor team went down to Dromoland at Lahinch on Saturday. Members of the team were Nancy Burke, Mary Gleeson, Maura Umlawski, Mairéad Carroll and Jenny McElhinney and the team is managed by Joan Barrett. The Miele team will play Castletroy on Thursday at 3.30pm. Playing in Woodstock will be Mary Sadlier and Mairéad Carroll, Áine Burke and Maura Umlawski, while playing in Castletroy will be Anne Marie Russell and Joan Barrett, Margaret Ann Killeen and Nancy Burke.

East Clare
IN the weekend men’s singles competition at East Clare, the winner was Ed Crowe (18) with 42 points from Dave Purcell (11) on 39 points and Paul Madden (15) with a similar score.
In the men’s seniors competition, the winners were Denis Collins, William McLysaght and Jackie McHugh from Kevin Mannion, John Brett and Pat Browne with third place filled by Brendan Moloney, Conor Tuohy and Michael Drew.
In the ladies’ singles last week, the winner was Connie McKenna from Evelyn Skehan with third spot filled by Noreen Doyle.
Mary Rogers, Evelyn Skehan and Deirdre Cooney were the winners of the ladies’ open day rumble from Kathleen O’Brien, Brigid Minogue and Mary Bugler. In third spot were Mary Mannion, Eileen Donnellan and Catherine Minogue.
Ger Hogan, Helen Downey and Noreen Costelloe won the Friday scramble from Denis Collins, Ronan Feehan and Kay Grimes. In third place were Eoghan Mannion, Mary Rogers and Ger O’Brien.
The ladies will be out in force this Sunday to play for captain, Catherine Minogue’s prize. There will be an 18-hole singles for men.

Kilkee
THE Pierce Purcell qualifier was held in Kilkee over the weekend. Saturday was very challenging with beautiful sunshine and a strong breeze. For the semi-finals and final, conditions were more benign with just a gentle breeze and bright sunshine.
The host club got through to the semi-finals on Sunday where they lost out in the last match to the eventual winners, Shannon.
The course, and the greens in particular, received very favourable comment.
The club will host an open singles on Thursdays commencing on June 28.

Corofin
COROFIN society had an outing to Nenagh at the weekend. Michael Ryan emerged winner by a narrow margin from David Daly and Brendan McDonagh. Gerry O’Donnell and Mary McNamara won the nines.
The next outing will be to Galway Bay in Oranmore on Saturday, June 16.

O’Dea Cup
THERE was an excellent turnout for the O’Dea Cup, played for by members of the Doonbeg society, at Kilrush on Sunday, The overall winner was PJ O’Dea with 39 points.
In the men’s section, Tony O’Dea won with 38 points from Seanie Moloney on 38 and Shane Igoe on 37. Ger Burke won the ladies’ section with 35 from Liz Blake on 31 and Marie McGuire on 28.
Tom O’Dea won the first nine with 18 points, while Kevin Hayes won the back nine with 22 points. The long drive was won by Diarmuid O’Donnell, while David Ryan won the visitors’ section.

Gort
THE winner of the Bob Forde Trophy at Gort on Sunday was Michael Greally (20) with 43 points from Jimmy Hannigan (17) with a similar score. Tom Costello (16), also with 43 points, was third followed by Val Hoarty (14) with 42 points. Eamonn Morrissey (7) won the gross with 35 points.
The Monday open singles was won by Philip McNamara (10) with 37 points from Shane Divinney (14) who also had 37 points and Fintan O’Donnell (24) with 35 points. Enda Cradock (1) won the gross with 32 points.
There will be an 18-hole singles competition this weekend.
The Josie McInerney Memorial Trophy will be played for on Monday.
Margaret Whelan won the ladies’ singles competition with 73 from Josie Cummins on 74 and Sara Broderick on 75. Maura Hanrahan won the gross with 89.
In the Australian Spoons fourball, Helen McCormack (21) and Ruth Naughton (20) won with 42 points.
In the Lancome open day, Ann Kerins (21) won with 38 points from Siobhán Forde (12) on 36 and Josie Cummins (20) on 35. Bernie Diskin (13) won the gross with 18 points.  

Spanish Point
THE seniors’ open at Spanish Point last week was won by Patrick O’Boyle (18) with 37 points.
Patsy Murphy (24) won the Friday open with 40 points from Brendan McCarthy (11) with 39 points.
In Sunday’s singles competition, Gerry Gallagher (22) won with 39 points from Michael O’Gorman (27) with 37 points.
John Moore had a hole-in-one at the sixth. Another club member, Eamonn Murphy, recorded a hole-in-one at the second in Ennis last Friday.

Portumna
IN the men’s 18-hole singles at Portumna on Sunday, the winner was Joe McCormack (21) with 40 points from Dave Burnett (17) with 40 points and Pat Craughwell (21) with 39 points. JP McLoughlin (Snr) won the gross with 38 points, while the seniors’ section was won by Brendan Madden (17) with 36 points.
In the 18-hole scotch mixed foursomes on Sunday, the winners were Bríd Kelly (25) and Kevin Cunningham (7) with 63 nett from Alice (26) and Ted Murphy (18) with 64 nett. In third place were Marie (18) and Michael Scroope (8) with 64.5 nett. The gross was won by Mike Carty (14) and Suzanne Corcoran (3) with 75.
The ladies’ Miele team, captained by Mary Conwell and Bridget Broderick, will play this week.
The Jimmy Bruen and the mixed foursomes are also playing matches this coming week.
The parent club secretary, Leslie O’Meara, won the nett prize in the Ballybunnion Junior Cup Open last week. Leslie had a superb card with birdies and eagles on the last four holes.
The club are hosting a fourball open over the June Bank Holiday. A timesheet is in operation. 
The annual open week festival of golf starts on the weekend of June 23 and will run to Sunday, July 1.
Michael Carty’s president’s prize will be played for on the weekend of June 9 and 10.
The junior golf section of Portumna Golf Club will have Kevin McGrath and Mike Horan giving coaching lessons to both junior boys and girls at the club this year.

McCafferty Cup
MAY 5 saw the staging of the McCaffrey Cup for Feakle natives and residents at East Clare Golf Club, for the 10th successive year. The current champion Oisín Donnellan set the pace with 40 points, which the two-time winner, Terry Walsh, countered with 41 points, with Michael Callinan close behind. Dan King made a strong play coming in with 42 points only to be pipped on a countback by Denis Collins. Michael Callinan was fifth with 40 points, just behind Donnellan.
The winning team comprised Jim Greene, Terry Walsh and Cillian Bane with 59 points followed by Denis Collins, Ted Harrington and Michael Callinan with 57 points. The winner of the ladies’ singles was Anna McGillicuddy with 31 points, while other prize winners were Raymond Bane (long drive) and Eoin Tuohy (nearest the pin).

Ennis Chamber classic
TIME is fast approaching for this year’s Ennis Chamber Golf Classic, which will be held on Friday, June 8 in Woodstock.  This annual event is one of the highlights of the business social calendar in Clare.
Some tee times are still available and any individual or business wishing to participate should contact Margaret Neylon on 065 684 2988 or info@ennischamber.ie.

NUI Galway Alumni  Golf Outing
NUI Galway’s Alumni Association will hold a golf outing in Galway Bay Golf Club in Oranmore on Friday, June 8.
Alumni relations officer, Colm O’Dwyer, said, “The Alumni golf outing promises to be an ideal way to meet up with friends old and new”.
To reserve a place, or for further details, contact the NUI Galway Alumni Office at 091 492721 or www.nuigalway.ie/alumni-friends.

Clare Teachers
EAST Clare was the venue on Saturday last for a Clare Teachers’ Society outing. Joe McMahon was the winner with 39 points from John Doyle on 37 and Joe Brady on 37. The category winners were Seamus Frehill with 37, Sean Cleary with 37 and Hilda McHugh with 36, while the nines were won by Michael Cummins with 21 and Fintan McEvoy with 18.
Ennis will be the venue on Monday, June 18 for the captain’s (Fintan McEvoy) prize. The tee will be available from 4pm to 6pm.

Pitch and putt
JAMES Ryan from the Tipperary Hills Club was the winner of the senior scratch cup at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Saturday. Marty Fawl from the host club was second followed by Tom Hanley (Bruff). Kenneth Kerin from the Clare Road won the best 36, while Patsy Farrell from Bruff won the prize for the final 18.
In the intermediate section, Ger Hanrahan (Cill na Mona) won from Martin Walsh (Cill na Mona). Niall Seere (Clare Road) won the final 18 category.
Conor Hanrahan from Cill na Mona won the junior section from Stephen O’Mahony (Ballinlough). Gareth Kerin from the Clare Road won the final 18 category.
Paula Nolan from Ballinlough won the ladies’ prize.