2019 All Ireland Secondary Schools Final

 

A NEW name will be inscribed on the trophy for the All Ireland Schools Pitch and Putt competition. St. Munchin’s College are the 2019 champions after the Limerick school’s six stroke victory over holders St. Francis College (Rochestown) at McDonagh in this three-person 36 holes Strokeplay tournament.

 

2018 Munster 16 Matchplay victor and National 16 Matchplay runner-up Shea Fennell displayed outstanding form all through for St. Munchin’s. Four under par after his opening round 50, Shea then breezed around McDonagh in 46 to post a brilliant 36-hole aggregate of 96. Shea Fennell was ably supported by 2017 Munster Under 16 Strokeplay champion Patrick Mitchell who scored 109 and Paddy Lawler who fired 111. That gave St. Munchin’s a team tally of eight under par 316 and thus reversed the placings of last week’s Munster Schools competition.

 

National Under 20 Strokeplay champion Eoin Keating delivered a tour de force for current Munster champions St. Francis College (Rochestown). Eoin, who was an Inter-County winner with Cork last year at Deerpark, matched Shea Fennell with a 50+46=96 return. Liam McGrath, like Eoin Keating a survivor of the 2018 winning trio, carded 112 for the Cork team while Colm O’Sullivan was round in 114 to leave St. Francis College on two under par overall. Templeogue College, who were crowned Leinster kingpins a week ago at Glenville, filled third place on 327. Oisin Horan recorded 104 for the Dubliners, while Oisin’s brother David shot 108 and Darragh Cullen contributed 115.

 

St. Munchin’s are the first Limerick academy to clinch All Ireland Schools Pitch and Putt competition laurels and brought to an end a Cork winning streak in the event, which dated back to Davis College Mallow’s victory at Lakeside in 2013.

 

St. Brendan’s College (Killarney) finished fourth on 330 while Mercy College of Kilbeggan, who were second in Leinster last week, took fifth spot on 341 just ahead of Fermoy’s Coláiste an Chraobhin.