2026 National Seniors Strokeplay Gents Intermediate & Junior Previews - By John Manning

Best Nett winner in the senior grade in 2025, Noel Cumiskey (Kilbeggan) will now tackle the National Over-55s intermediate grade Strokeplay championship.

Patsy Reamsbottom (Erry) was runner-up in the senior category in 2013, losing a play-off to Anthony Malone at Erry.

Gerard Thornton (Killineer) and Patrick Gaynor (R.G.S.C.) have been National Intermediate Inter- County runners-up with Louth and Dublin respectively.

Former National Competitions Co-ordinator, Michael Vaughan (Inniskeen) was twice previously (in 2016 and 2018) a runner-up in the National Intermediate Strokeplay championship.

2012 champion at Over-55s senior grade level in Collins, Patrick Kelly (Loughlinstown) has been a proficient Pitch and Putt performer for decades and was an Inter-County winner with Dublin at Cloghogue in 1982.

Anto Kavanagh (Trim) was crowned European Senior (Over-55) Strokeplay champion at Dagenham in 2019.

2018 champion at McDonagh, Sean Minogue (Riverdale) is another player who is no stranger to victory podiums. The 1993 and 1995 National Inter-County winner was runner-up to Ronan Hollywood at Cloghogue in 2017, having finished second in the senior grade to William Sheridan at Fermoy a year earlier.

Anthony Butler (Seapoint) earned a silver medal for Louth in the 2023 National Junior Inter-County championship at Ryston.

Gerard J.J. Quirke (Fermoy) won the successive championships of 2022 in Bellewstown and 2023 (Glenville).

Rochfortbridge’s own Pat Tyrell is a Dublin native who played on the Metropolitans’ 1979 National Inter-County runner-up side at Waterford Glass. Tyrell lifted the consecutive Dublin Strokeplay championships of 1978 and 1979.

Mike O’Donnell (Bruff) helped Limerick to the 2022 National Junior Inter-County championship title at Larkspur Park.

Michael McGrath (Larkspur Park) is another to have seen much success in the Inter-County arena, linking with Sean Minogue on those triumphant 1993 and 1995 Premier County sides.

Dominic Kavanagh (Bruff) was runner-up at Glenville three years ago.

Ian Leech (St. Anne’s) was crowned All-Ireland Intermediate Matchplay champion earlier this month at Rocklodge. Leech is a former National Inter-Club winner (Nett 2013 and Gross 2024) with St. Anne’s.

Ronan Hollywood (Cloghogue) was 2017 champion at Cloghogue.

Richard Harkin (Loughlinstown) was 2010 National Mixed Team Event runner-up. Harkin is drawn in the first Junior group out with local man James Gill and 2025 Royal Meath Scratch Cup Junior B runner-up Richard McNamee (Eden).

Fermoy’s Robbie Donovan is a player of immense experience - 1998 National Mixed Foursomes Best Gross laurels allied to 2022 National Intermediate Inter--County winner with Cork

Three recent champions return for another tilt at the title. Kieran O’Driscoll (Ballinlough) claimed the 2024 Junior championship at St. Stephen’s while holder Brendan Moloney (Ardnacrusha) was crowned 2025 champion at Riverdale. They are joined by Athgarvan’s Gerry Doyle, who triumphed in 2019 whilst playing out of McDonagh. Doyle was also intermediate runner-up, at Cement in 2011.

Gerry O’Connor (Larkspur Park) was 2024 National Junior Matchplay champion at Larkspur Park.

Gerry plays with Kieran O’Driscoll and 2026 St. Patrick’s Scratch Cup runner-up P.J. Harte (Poulaphouca).

2018 intermediate runner-up at McDonagh, John Fleming (Tullamore) was a National Senior Strokeplay bronze medallist in 2003.

Westmeath Inter-County player Tom Metcalfe (Rochfortbridge) finished second at Bellewstown four years back and would love to lift the Cup on home turf. Tom will have 2024 Kildare Matchplay runner-up Michael Foley (Athgarvan) and Ballinlough’s John O’Donovan for company.

Brian Dillon (Ardnacrusha) captured third prize in the 2019 overall Junior Strokeplay chanmpionship.

1991 Carrolls Club Tournament runner-up with Kilbeggan, Mick Cunningham was a 2007 National Mixed Team event silver medallist.

Harry O’Mahony (St. Anne’s) was a 2024 National Inter-Club winner with St. Anne’s while Ardnacrusha’s Eugene McNamara finished second in the 2024 Munster Strokeplay championship.

Peter Dunning (Riverdale) was the Nett winner around his home track in 2025.

2023 Junior B champion at Glenville, Thomas McInerney (Cloghogue) played on the Down team that claimed silver medals in last year’s National Junior Inter-County championship.

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