This Saturday sees the National U16 Strokeplay and Inter-County Championships take place in Hillview in Clonmel as we are guaranteed a new National Girls Strokeplay Champion this year while Kerry bid for a fifth straight title in the Inter-County event. Jason O’Connor looks ahead to all three events taking place this weekend.

It all gets underway at 9am on Saturday with the three-ball of Jack Duggan from the host club, Deerpark’s Ben Kelliher (Munster U16 Strokeplay runner-up) and Listowel’s Sean Stack getting the day going as it will be a long day for those involved in the Inter-County ranks. For the third straight year an inter-county player’s best 18 card will be their Singles score for the Inter-County event as the day concluded with Scotch Foursomes in the afternoon.

Defending Boys champion Jack McShane of Gowran tees off at 9.48am with Ben Franklin from the host club and Deerpark’s Aodhan O’Halloran as last year’s runner-up Brian McCarthy of Deerpark is out in the next three-ball with Riverdale’s Matthew Bergin and Ryston’s Conor Crudden. McCarthy has done the provincial double at U16 level in Munster this year as he bids to go one better this year.

The winner from two years ago in Deerpark, Listowel’s Ajay Barrett is also in the field as he is out in the third group with Ciaran Maher from the host club and Daniel Collins from Bagenalstown. With Joe Franklin and Athgarvan’s Peadar O’Toole amongst the field, five of Irish U16 team from last year’s International Challenge with Catalonia are amongst the field as 2022 National U16 Matchplay winner Franklin will hope for the benefit of home advantage for both club and county on Saturday.

Franklin tees off with Portmarnock’s Enda Hayden and ESB’s Aaron Corcoran in the sixth last group as O’Toole is out in the penultimate group with Fermoy’s Aaron Whelan and Kilbeggan’s Simon Fox. O’Toole won the recent Leinster U16 Strokeplay as another Kildare player, Ryston’s Harry Tiernan was U13 winner last year. Tiernan tees off late on with recent third place finisher in the Munsters in Majestic Aiden Spence Murphy of Claycastle and Daniel Leahy of Listowel.

Leinster Strokeplay runner-up is out earlier in the day with Glenville’s Aaron Holsman and Ryston’s Evan McPartland as the inter-county players won’t have much time to dwell on their 36 holes with the county hats to be put on for the Scotch Foursomes. In the Girls event the ascent of Sarah Cooney to the adult ranks following her three-in-a-row winning years creates a new opportunity for the six players entered this weekend. Sarah Ryan is the sole Munster representative in the field as she has already won this year’s Munster U16 Matchplay on her home course alongside finishing third the last two years.

Molly O’Toole of Ryston is the reigning National U16 Matchplay holder but Gemma Cuffe from Kilbeggan won the recent Leinster U16 Strokeplay as Gemma’s sister Pippa, Ryston’s Eabha O’Connor and Portmarnock’s Gemma Hayden are the other entrants in the Girls event. For the Inter-County event, Kerry are looking to keep the Tommy Murphy Cup in their possession yet again, something they have had a firm grip on since 2018.

Kilkenny taking them to the last green in Seapoint last year will give the other counties confidence about unseated them this year not least Tipperary in their home county. Kerry made it six straight Munster titles last month as Kildare held on to the Leinster title as the experience of playing the format in the provincials should make the counties more understanding of what is involved in this event. Cork and Dublin have made their return to U16 Inter-County level recently as it is encouraging to see Westmeath, Carlow and Kilkenny with teams again this year.

If it is close after the Singles, it will be interesting to see how the players cope in Scotch Foursomes. It feels a bit fairer for younger players to have someone to rely on in trying to get to the finish line and not have the pressure totally on their own shoulders coming towards the finish.

Our best wishes to all players involved this weekend as we wish them a safe journey to and from Clonmel.

 

 

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