What started out as a promising day, full of hope and expectation, unfortunately ended with a disappointing 3&1 defeat to the The Island who were the holders and who were winning it for the 3rd year in a row.

The team played magnificent golf on a difficult course in testing conditions. We were supported by an army of supporters including Captain James and recent temporary resident of The Island, VC Cian. We went into the day with a narrow lead of 1 win, worth 2 points. Two wins would see us as the winners, and for a very long time we appeared to be on track.

Having won one match, and lost the other, the last two live matches went down 18 with chances to bring home the trophy. However the Island pairings played those holes like scratch players and we could not match them. We used 16 members of our panel over the Series, all of whom contributed to our reaching the final. They were a great panel to work with throughout, answering every call for help, playing their hearts out, and supporting one another all the time.

And we appreciated greatly the interest and support of the other Team Managers, and our Captain James and Vice Captain Cian.

So, in the end we finish 2nd, not what we’d hoped for, but we did make the final, and that’s better than we have achieved in this competition before. I’m so proud of my players and panel!

Maybe next year?

Match Report 5

This was not a match for the fainthearted, especially if you were spectating, and most especially if you had the sort of vested interest in the final outcome that a team manager might have!

All four matches ebbed and flowed, at one stage we were 3 up in one match and 3 down in another. And in the end every match went to the 18th to be settled.

In the 1st match we went down 18 with Alan Levey & the Doc both giving shots to The Island. An altercation on the 18th Tee with some uninvited visitors probably didn’t help - in the end the shot counted for The Island and we lost by 1 hole.In the 2nd match Dave O’Neill & David Curtis went down 18 leading 1 up. Dave was giving shots to v everyone, including his partner - in the end Dave O’Neill’s par halved the hole - David Curtis was close by with 2 puts to close it out if necessary.

In the 3rd match Tony Higgins and Brian Deane were in a ding dong battle, with very good golf being played by both sides. They came to the 17th 1 down, and Tony, giving a shot to everyone, played a magnificent 2nd shot into the green. The pressure that put on the opposition had the desired results and we won the hole. Similarly intimidating drives down 18 from both Brian and Tony, kept the pressure on. However Tony’s par and Brian’s 5 (with a shot) was matched by The Island and the hole was halved. Finally Frank Kennedy and Dick Fogarty were doing their thing in a very tight match. Just like Alan, Dave & Tony, Frank was the low man giving shots to everyone. One up playing 17, Frank’s par wasn’t good enough, The Island won the hole with a par (and a shot).

So down 18 all square. A classic Sutton situation where often we have been pipped, however this time a very determined Dick Fogarty, the only man with a shot, made excellent use of it and won the hole securing a very valuable 2 points. Now we turn our attention to the 2nd leg which will be played in The Island on Monday June 19th at 15:10. We lead by 5 points to 3, with a potential 8 points up for grabs.

We’ll keep pushing!

Match Report 4:

A tale of two courses - our final match of the Series played against St Anne’s. On our home course we won both of our matches.

In St Anne’s we lost both! So Home Advantage proved decisive in all games, and we ended up with another draw.

For our Home matches, Alan Levey & Gerry Stewart kept their 100% record intact with a 3&2 win, and, not to be outdone, David Curtis and Brian Deane also maintained their 100% record delivering the same outcome with another 3&2 win. The Away team of Tony Higgins & Roddy Guiney and Frank Kennedy & Roddy Cooper both met stern opposition and lost their matches. Both matches were hard fought, with Frank & Roddy’s match going to the 18th.

Unfortunately however St Anne’s at home proved too good on the day. So, with all of our Round Robin matches now complete, we are top of our group, leading by 3 points. The trouble is that The Links Portmarnock, who are only 3 points behind us, have a match in hand - so we need Laytown & Bettystown to do us a favour and hammer them next Monday when they play their final match!

Irrespective of the final outcome we can be very proud of our performance this year, we are unbeaten in our 4 ties. We beat both Co Louth and Laytown & Bettystown and we drew with The Links and with St Anne’s. Something to build on!

Match Report 3:

A good day for the Super Seniors playing Laytown & Bettystown

We won 2 matches, halved another, and lost 1 match away.

Net result is we have 14 points from our 3 matches so far, just one point behind The Links who have 15 points, and one more match to go next Monday against St Anne’s. We have a chance to qualify for the finals from our group if we can get a result in our favour.

Match Report 2:

Another exciting match against Co Louth (Baltray)

Baltray fielded a very strong team, mostly single figure handicappers. However they met their match against a determined Sutton team in a very closely fought tie.

Both at home and away it was bitterly cold and very windy, so not for the faint hearted. At home Paul Tierney and Gerry Walsh found themselves dormie 3 down, then proceeded to win 16,17, & 18 to tie their match. Dave O’Neill and Dick Fogarty went down 18 all square - Dave shaved the hole for a birdie, Dick had a shot and sank a 4 foot put for par to close out the match. Must be the lesson he had last week with Paddy! In Baltray David Curtis and Brian Deane won 2/1, and Frank Kennedy and Roddy Guiney lost 2/1.

So Sutton wins the tie 2&1/2 to 1 & 1/2 Our next match is against Laytown & Bettystown and is scheduled for 8th May 2023

Match Report 1:

Match 1: A good result for our 1st match against the winners last year.

A good result for our 1st match against the winners last year. A win and a loss at home and a win and a loss away. Dave O’ Neill and Martin Clarke won their match 7&6, all other matches were close fought, winning or losing on the 16th or 17th. Overall result was a draw, but our superior win total (10) better than the Links (6). Next match is against Baltray, Co Louth and is fixed for next Monday 3rd April