McDonnell Cup 2024 Final
McDonnell Cup 2024 Final August 25th and Sept 1st 2024. Sutton go down fighting and proud in Final in McDonnell Cup to a strong Corballis GC squad.
After the fabulous achievement of Sutton winning the McDonnell Cup in 2023, we were determined to defend our title in proud Sutton fashion. With a much changed squad (owing to handicap reductions over 2023), the remaining experienced McDonnell squad and new Interclub debutants united quickly to progress through 3 rounds with wins over Hollywood Lakes, Donabate and Roganstown to get back into McDonnell Final 2024 against Corballis GC. This was a super achievement to get to back-to-back finals.
The final was held over 2 legs with the 1 st leg in Corballis on August 25 th with 5 FourBall matches played. We had fantastic support out in Corballis (also known as ball spotters) for the 1st leg. The supporters can testify to the difficulty and challenge that day in Corballis.
Corballis is a tight, quirky course on any day where local knowledge is a huge advantage. On the 25th we had the added challenge of a massive gale blowing across the course. I doubt that a professional competition would actually have gone ahead on the day such was the wind conditions. Our squad had practiced a lot in Corballis and we started with confidence. But in reality, Corballis were fantastic in the conditions on the day producing remarkable shots and scores to always keep us at bay in all the matches and looked like an unbeatable upcoming young squad. The slope score (108) of Corballis course also yielded Corballis a lot of extra shots given by us which was another extra challenge.
Before we knew it we had lost 5:0 and were licking our wounds after a tough day. Our squad are a determined lot and were keen to finish McDonnell 2024 in a strong way. We regrouped during the week, made some small changes and sought for “Miracle of Medinah” path in
the 2nd leg. We nearly got there too!
The 2nd leg in Sutton on Sunday 1st was played in good conditions and the course was in great order as complimented by the Corballis team and McDonnell organising committee. To keep the report short, I wont go into individual matches – all our players on the day played their hearts out for Sutton GC – Simon English, Mark Banahan, Robbie Lyons, Dave Walsh, Fred Gilbert, David Jones, John Massey, Brian Deane, Brian Cole and Justin Ray – take a bow!!
The quality of the golf was of a really high standard. Corballis strengthened their squad even from Day 1 with international players and the likes and again started off playing great golf, initially looking very comfortable in Sutton. Our team could have easily folded but that wasn’t going to happen. Our approach was to take it match by match and we began to dismantle this strong Corballis team. We played super matchplay golf where pars and birdies were needed to win holes.
Corballis had the ability to put a strong pairing at different placings in their squad and Match4/Jago ultimately delivered the point they were looking for. Some of the high quality played in this match by this Corballis pair would have been hard to match by any pairing whether McDonnell or any other cup competition. Having arrived confidently in Sutton, Corballis were overjoyed to hang in and get this point and where Sutton were leading 4:1 on Day 2 in Sutton to an overall score that would look like 6:4. Corballis are fully deserving of winning McDonnell overall. Their winning performance on Day 1 and good display in Sutton merits this. There was great respect for each other between both teams.
We nearly got “Medinah in Sutton” and Day 2 of the Final was positive and great achievement for a proud team and for Sutton GC. The ceremony afterwards at the back of 18th acknowledged the great displays by both teams. After a nice meal for both teams (bacon ‘n cabbage – perfection), we adjourned to the 19th to celebrate a positive McDonnell run in 2024….here’s to McDonnell 2025 campaign!
