Sutton sign off victorious McDonnell Cup campaign in style!

It was a memorable day at Sutton Golf Club as the McDonnell Cup team brought home the first men’s pennant in 19 years. Holding a slender 3-2 lead following a battling performance in Clontarf in the first leg, nobody involved was under any illusions as to the challenge Clontarf were going to pose. The magic number on the day was 2.5 – the number of points Sutton required to win the pennant.

The Sutton team was again led out by the father and son combination of Sé and Conor O’Leary. The O’Leary’s battled on the front 9 and turned 2 up, partially thanks to Sé’s remarkable pitch-in birdie from the fourth fairway on the third hole! The next match saw the wily campaigner, and semi-final hero, David Jones partner Sutton inter-club debutant Brian Digan. David had obviously decided that he didn’t want to have any drama this time around decided to end the match 8 & 7 – a remarkable debut for Brian!! One of the highlights was David’s super lag put on the 9 th green in front of a large crowd of spectators which resulted in a gimme par.

Following on from their outstanding first leg victory, Simon English and Fred Gilbert went into battle with the same opponents again in the third match. This Clontarf pairing in particular were hungry for revenge and started very well. However, the Sutton lads, as they have done throughout the summer, battled away through the opening holes and gradually eeked out a slender lead as they moved onto the back 9. Amongst the highlights were two outstanding pitches to less than two feet by both Fred and Simon on the 5th .

Having welcomed a grandchild on Saturday morning, Brian Deane again went into battle with Joe Kelly. This match was very much nip and tuck with the lead changing hands on a number of occasions. In the anchor match, Michael O’Halloran played his 361st Interclub Match of 2023 alongside the ever- reliable Chris Long. Michael and Chris started well and moved into a commanding lead around the turn and comfortably kept their opponents at arms length from there.

All-in-all as the matches moved through the turn Sutton were well placed and for a few brief moments were up in all 5 matches. However, Clontarf showed their class and began to turn the tables across the board. The O’Learys were brought from 2 up to all-square, Brian Deane and Joe Kelly had their lead reversed and found themselves trailing and Fred and Simon’s lead was brought back to one hole. The relatively calm atmosphere amongst the Sutton supporters was replaced by nervousness and trepidation… not so for the players however!

By now Sutton had one point in the bag thanks to David and Brian, and looked assured of a second from Michael and Chris. That still left us needing a half from one of the other three matches, far from a certainty. As Sé and Conor won the 16 th to go 1 up, Michael and Chris went dormie with four to play, guaranteeing a half for Sutton. Over the years, Sutton Golf Club has witnessed some glorious golf shots but few of these would better Conor’s second shot from 170 yards on the 17th to 5 foot! As Simon English was simultaneously lining up a putt to win on the 16th , Conor drained his birdie putt to win the McDonnell Cup in spectacular fashion!!

A super day was capped off by a great evening. As the pints flowed after dinner Brian Deane gave a worldwide exclusive performance of his forthcoming single which can be found in all good record shops (or in reality a few whatsapp groups!!).

On behalf of the management team, a huge thanks and congrats to everyone involved throughout the campaign. It has been a brilliant few months and you are a credit to the Club. Thanks also to everyone who has assisted us, especially Captain James, Vice-Captain Cian, Derek Hunter, Aidan McWilliams and Paddy Devine. Thanks also to everyone who has supported the team throughout the summer, especially the McDonnell family. Commiserations to Clontarf who were great opponents and very gracious in defeat.

We will close off with the words of Brian Deane ringing in our ears:

McDonnell! McDonnell!

Lift up your voice and sing,

Hosanna in the highest!

The Pennants now our thing!

Semi Final V Swords

Sutton secure dramatic victory in tough conditions! A remarkable two hours of golf in the toughest of conditions saw Sutton qualify for the final of the McDonnell Cup against a very strong team from Swords Golf Club.

First out at home were the Kellys, James and Joe, who were playing against two exceptional golfers from Swords. The first hole was halved with birdies and it set the tone for what was to be an incredible match. Sé and Conor O’Leary followed them out, took the lead early and were always in control. The O’Learys were two up going into the field for the second time and won all three on that side of the tracks to close their match off on the 14th green. Exceptional stuff. The anchor match at home was the unflappable Michael O’Halloran and Brian Deane, the heroes of the victory over Corballis in the quarter final.

In Swords, David Jones and Justin Ray led the Sutton team out, followed by Fred Gilbert and Simon English. Jones and Ray was nip and tuck early on. English and Gilbert powered into a two-up lead after two but, despite being 4 over gross with their better ball at the turn, found themselves 4 down on the 10th tee.

All in all, as the matches passed through the turn, things were looking ominous for Sutton. While the O’Learys were always looking comfortable, Deane and O’Halloran’s match was very much in the balance and Sutton were down in the other three. Then came the drama….

Wins on 12, 13 and 15 brought James and Joe back to all-square and it looked as though this match would decide Sutton’s fate – if Deane and O’Halloran could also do the business. Fantastic halveswere made by Joe and James on 16 and 17 respectively before a superb downhill putt from James looked like it would win the match on 18. However, under intense pressure the Swords man held his nerve and the match would go down 19.

By now the wind was howling and the storm clouds were dumping everything they had onto Cush point. As the Kellys halved the 19th, Brian Deane closed out their match to win 1 up on the 18th . What a partnership! In atrocious weather, James Kelly played a glorious teeshot to the middle of the 20th fairway. Both Swords players were in deep rough but a superb second from the back of the first green left them with a 25 foot putt for birdie. Not to be outclassed, James hit an even better shot to 12 feet and was unfortunate to not be even closer. In front of a big crowd, Swords made the birdie and James came agonisingly close to taking the match to the 21st hole. It truly was a classic - so close and exceptional golf.

However, the disappointment was short lived. As the Sutton players and supporters decamped to the bar word reached that things were turning rapidly in Swords! Jones and Ray had come from 2 down to be all-square on 16, while Gilbert and English had come from 4 down with 5 to play to being one down with 2 to play! The match was back in the melting pot and when Justin Ray won the 17th , a half on 18 would see Sutton into the final. By this time live commentary was being broadcast into the Sutton Golf Club bar courtesy of the Vice-Captain Cian Bennis. Two fantastic shots left David Jones with two putts to win the tie and, despite leaving himself a tricky two-footer, he was ice-cool in knocking it in – heroic stuff from Jones and Ray! (see below!)

All players deserve immense credit for the standard of golf played in truly atrocious weather. Special mention to the James, Joe, Fred and Simon for the character shown in turning their matches around on the back nine. The team was very well supported in both venues which was very much appreciated by all of the players. The final will be over two legs and against either Donabate or Clontarf. Everyone will be giving their all to bring the McDonnell Cup to Sutton!

Match Report 1

Opponents left like Deer (Park), caught in the headlights!

Sutton’s McDonnell Cup team capitalised on the momentum generated by the recent victories by both the Uden and Pierce Purcell teams when they comprehensively beat Deer Park in the first round on Sunday. While the final scoreline will show a categoric victory, Deer Park fought gamely forlong periods before all Sutton pairs rallied on their back 9’s.

First out was the Kellys – James and Joe (no relation) – in Deer Park. Having bombarded Elm Green with his arsenal of scud missiles the day before, Joe also waged shock and awe on Deer Park. The Kelly Gang started slowly but began to really turn up the heat on the back 9 before winning on the 17th .

At home, the charge was led out by the father and son combination of Sé and Conor O’Leary. In what was truly a dominant display, the O’Leary’s dismantled their opponents. Massive putts by Conor and Sé respectively on 5 and 8 saw them open up a 5 hole lead at the turn and despite losing the 10th to an eagle (the O Leary’s had a birdie!), another raking putt by O’Leary junior saw the match closed out on the 13th . Conor is now 5-0 in interclub this year, a truly remarkable feat.

Behind them, the wily veteran Michael O’Halloran partnered our resident DJ Fred Gilbert. The Sutton pair had a quiet front 9 by their own high standards but a massive up and down by Fred on 11, followed by another on 13 brought them level from 2 down after 10. A solid par from Michael put them 1 up after 14 as the tide turned in Sutton’s favour. Just behind them, Chris Long and Tom Hennebry established an early lead and kept their opponentsat an arm’s length all afternoon. Chris made some clutch putts throughout the match and they finished their golf for the day in style with two fantastic tee-shots on the 15 th . Chris duly nailed his putt for a birdie to go 3 up with 3 to play.

All the while in Deer Park, the second pair of David Jones and Stephen Neill were battling away. A run of pars by David around the turn brought Sutton back into the match and throughout the back 9, it was a real nip and tuck affair. Sutton were one up playing 18 and a fantastic sand save from Stephen closed out the match in style and saw the remaining pairs in Sutton called in.

We are now into the last 8 of the competition where either St. Margaret’s or Corballis will await.