Match Report Metro Round 2 v Clontarf

All three home matches got off to great start with comfortable early leads. John Aherne played great golf throughout and would go on to win his match on the 15th.

Both Brendan Fitzpatrick and his young opponent played super golf. The young man was a maestro around the greens. He gradually clawed back Brendan’s early lead and won the match on the 18th. Niall Kennedy was playing against a highly experienced Clontarf player. Niall played with great tenacity and withstood some great golf from his opponent down the closing stretch, to win on the 18th.

Tee off in Clontarf was 30 minutes later than in Sutton. When the home matches concluded, we retired to the balcony to follow the unfolding drama in the full knowledge that the Clontarf team was full of players with lots of inter club match play experience. Gareth Noone was three up when he was called in going down 15. Ian Anderson, John Lally and Mark Logan were up against experienced players with home advantage and lost out on the day, despite their valiant efforts.  There was great disappointment when the result was confirmed. But the drama was not yet over!

Having sworn the only witness (Vice Captain, Cian) to secrecy, Ian proceeded to tell us of his dramatic experience on the 12th. It goes something like this. Ian and his Clontarf counterpart each played not one, not two but three balls off the 12th tee and believed all 6 to be out of bounds. Now the first thing that came to my mind is that this is a man who reads his scripts before he takes to the stage/set/course depending on the specific circumstances. So surely he read Ronan O’Driscoll’s course guide which was circulated well in advance of the match and reads as follows

12th Key hole – Index 1 (Yes Ronan even printed those words in red). Driver normally too much, sends ball over cliff. Perhaps Ronan needs to edit this for next year and add - whatever club you hit, if it sends the ball over the cliff, use a different club second time and if that doesn’t work, use a different club third time. Like all good dramas, there is a final twist. Both original balls were found and were playable. So perhaps no action needed on the golfing front, just a visit to Specsavers!

In closing this report, I will share with you some final comments and thanks.

Thanks to all who came out to support in both venues including Captain James and Manager of Managers Derek (Sutton) Vice Captain Cian (Clontarf). A special word for those who attended and helped in Clontarf, sub, Joe Kelly, who was busy keeping the scoring on the App up-to-date, his brother Sam, Dave O’Neill, and Aidan McWilliams. Ronan O’Driscoll was a great source of player form leading up to the match and helped with live scoring.

I sent a message of congratulations to the Clontarf manager, David Hennessy on Monday evening. His response was: “Many thanks for your kind message – we are delighted to progress. It was a very close game and it could have gone either way. Thanks to you guys for such a sporting contest and I look forward to catching up with you in person sometime in the future. We were very well received by the Captain, Liam Loughnane and the President, Andrew Cullen, and all we came across at Clontarf.

I would like to extend my thanks all the players in the panel for your great sportsmanship in representing Sutton Golf Club. There was a sense of great energy, enthusiasm and commitment from everyone. To each of you who played on Monday, the standard of golf was exceptionally high. Although the match did not go in our favour, I am confident that this panel includes players who will play a key role in representing Sutton Golf Club in the years’ ahead.

Remember Derek’s Senior Cup match report and my response that “there are a few Sam’s in this panel and senior cup is only a few short year’s away.” Just think of the word above Ted Lasso’s door!   To Gerry, Michael and Niall your support, advice and guidance was very valuable to me.

David