International Challenge vs. Catalonia this Weekend

Profiles of the 12 players and two administrators who make up the Irish contringent heading to Lloret Papalus

International Challenge vs. Catalonia this Weekend  image

INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE 2014 IRELAND VS. CATALONIA

BEFORE they fly off tomorrow evening to represent the PPUI in the International Challenge against Catalonia here we profile the 12 players and the management team who will be looking after them in Lloret Papalus. Nine counties are presented in the line-up and vary in ages from young to the not so young! Further information on this event will follow in the coming days.

 

IRISH TEAM PROFILES

Michael Murphy (Team Manager)

Club: Old County (Dublin)

Handicap: -7

NEC Position: Honorary Secretary since 2001

Previous Administration: Leinster Council Vice President 1999-2001

Previous Irish Teams Involved with: First Involvement

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1976

Notable achievements as a Pitch & Putt Player: Double Captain’s Prize winner in Old County 1979 & 1986

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Soccer (Bohemians and Manchester City fan)

 

Mary Farrell (Assistant Manager)

Club: Gaeil Colmcille (Meath)

Handicap: -13

NEC Position: Competition Secretary since 2012, Previously PRO and Non-Portfolio Officer

Previous Administration: Meath County Board PRO, Secretary, Treasurer and Competition Secretary (Current)

Previous Irish Teams Involved with: First Involvement

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1991

Notable achievements as a Pitch & Putt Player: Leinster Mixed Foursomes Winner 2013

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Reading and Music

 

Maree O’Toole (Dublin, Team Captain)

Club: Shandon

Handicap: -3

Pitcher: Patty Bear Pitching Wedge

Putter: Dunlop

Favoured Ball: Titleist Pro V1 

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 1970

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Double Dublin Matchplay Winner 2002 & 2013

Favourite Course outside of Club: Tullamore (Offaly)

Previous Teams Represented: Shandon (Dublin Leagues) and Dublin Ladies Inter-County

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: Camogie (St Patricks GAA Club Palmerstown) and Swimming

 

Christy Broe (Dublin)

 Club: Old County

Handicap: -2

Pitcher: Taylor Made 50 degree wedge

Putter: Odyssey

Favoured Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 1968

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: National O-55’s Senior Strokeplay Champion 2010 and 1982 Leinster Mixed Foursomes

Favourite Course outside of Club: Glenville (Dublin)

Previous Teams Represented: Old County (Dublin Leagues) and Dublin vs. Catalonia Challenge

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: Gaelic Football (Former Wicklow Minor & Senior Player) and Horse Racing

 

John Carton (Westmeath)

Club: Kilbeggan

Handicap: -3

Pitcher: Titleist Vokey 54 degree

Putter: Spalding HB

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1968

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: National Seniors Title (Intermediate) 2013

Favourite Course outside of Club: Navan (Meath)

Previous Teams Represented: Kilbeggan (Carrolls National Inter-Club Winners) and Westmeath Gents Inter-County

Interests Outside of Pitch & Putt: GAA, Golf and Swimming

 

Helen Daly (Clare)

Club: Cill Na Mona

Handicap: -9

Pitcher: Dunlop Pitching Wedge

Putter: Slazenger

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1995

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Munster Ladies Intermediate Strokeplay 2012

Favourite Course outside of Club: Mellows (Galway)

Previous Teams Represented: Clare Ladies Inter-County

Interests Outside of Pitch & Putt: Hill Walking and Socialising @ the 19th hole!

 

 Ian Dillon (Kildare)

Club: St Bridgets

Handicap: +1

Pitcher: Ben Hogan 52 Degree

Putter: Odyssey White Hot

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 1985

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Kildare Inter-County Winning Team Member 2000

Favourite Course outside of Club: St Annes (Cork)

Previous Teams Represented: St Bridgets (National Inter-Club) and Kildare Gents Inter-County

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: GAA, Soccer and Golf

 

Martin Fawl (Clare)

Club: Clare Road

Handicap: -2

Pitcher: Sandwedge

Putter: Ping

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 1994

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: 2004 National Over 55’s Strokeplay Champion

Favourite Course outside of Club: Lakeside (Tipperary)

Previous Teams Represented: Clare Road (National Inter-Club) and Clare Gents Inter-County

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: GAA, Soccer & Rugby

 

Conor McCarthy (Kerry)

Club: Deerpark

Handicap: -1

Pitcher: Titleist Vokey 56 degree

Putter: Silverdine

Favoured Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 2009

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Double National Champion (Boys & Junior Gents) 2013

Favourite Course outside of Club: Rocklodge (Cork)

Previous Teams Represented: Deerpark (National Inter-Club) and Kerry U-16 Inter-County

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Gaelic Football (Killarney Legion) and Soccer (Killarney Celtic)

 

Kevin McCarthy (Cork)

Club: Rocklodge

Handicap: +2

Pitcher: Ping 56 degree

Putter: Ping Anser 1

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1998

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: National Gents Matchplay Champion 2012

Favourite Course outside of Club: Claycastle (Cork)

Previous Teams Represented: Rocklodge (Cork Leagues) and Cork Gents Inter-County

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Golf and Fishing

 

 

Weeshie Murphy (Cork)

Club: Raffen Creek

Handicap: -3

Pitcher: Sandwedge

Putter: Dunlop Insertech

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 1977

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Galicia Open Seniors Prizewinner 2011

Favourite Course outside of Club: Rocklodge (Cork)

Previous Teams Represented: Raffen Creek (Cork Leagues)

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Hurling (Former All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal winner with Cork 1975-77) and Badminton 

 

Martha O’Brien (Tipperary)

Club: Lakeside

Handicap: -3

Pitcher: Dennix 52 degree

Putter: Wilson Staff Blade

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started Playing Pitch & Putt: 2004

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: 2012 Munster Ladies Senior Strokeplay Champion

Favourite Course outside of Club: Fermoy (Cork)

Previous Teams Represented: Lakeside (National Inter-Club) and Tipperary Ladies Inter-County

Interests outside of Pitch & Putt: Badminton

 

Shane Redmond (Louth)

Club: Channonrock

Handicap: Scr

Pitcher: Taylor Made 58 degree

Putter: Odyssey White Hot

Favoured Ball: Titliest Pro V1

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 2006

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Double National Juvenile Strokeplay Champion 2010 & 2012

Favourite Course outside of Club: Deerpark (Kerry)

Previous Teams Represented: Louth Gents & Juvenile Inter-County

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: Soccer & Hurling

 

Frank Ryan (Kildare)

Club: St Bridgets

Handicap: +1

Pitcher: Ping Lobwedge

Putter: Wilson Staff Blade

Favoured Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Year Started playing Pitch & Putt: 1986

Biggest Success as a Pitch & Putt Player: Double Leinster Matchplay Winner 1997 and 1998

Favourite Course outside of Club: McDonagh (Kildare)

Previous Teams Represented: St Bridgets (Inter-Club) and Kildare Gents Inter-County

Interests outside Pitch & Putt: Music and Films