The Munster and Leinster Secondary Schools were down for decision today on two packed courses at Riverdale and Lucan, producing worthy winners hailing from Kerry and Dublin respectively.
The majority of the day’s drama and the better scoring occured in Munster where incredibly only six shots separated the top nine teams, all of whom were three under par or better. The eventual winners, St. Brendan’s from Killarney (pictured above) totalled nine under par thanks to great scores from Jason O’Brien (110), Creagh Courtney (102) and Michael Cronin (103). This was enough to keep rival school Killarney Community College at bay by one shot. Conor McCarthy (103), Stephen McCarthy (101) and Kieran Fitzpatrick (112) combined for a 316 total. Both teams played in the second session, chasing the early target of 317 laid down by the early leaders, Pobailscoil na Tríonaide. That 317 total was incredibly matched by two other teams with Davis College from Mallow (Greg Barrett, Edward Walshe and Roy Whelan) taking third placed thanks to a superior back 18 score. As well as the top three teams, six more teams qualify for the All-Ireland final at Lakeside in a fortnight’s time. The remaining qualifiers are:
4th: Carrigaline Community School
5th: Pobailscoil na Tríonaide 1
6th: St. Colman’s College Fermoy 2
7th: Pobailscoil na Tríonaide 2
8th: Coláiste an Chraoibhín Fermoy 1
9th: Our Lady’s Templemore 1
THE FULL SCOREBOARD IS AVAILABLE HERE
The scoring in Lucan was not as spectacular but the 99 players on the course still produced plenty of skill. The Drimnagh Castle team made up of Liam O’Reilly (107), Shaun McDonnell (98) and Ciaran Purtill (117) took the lead after the first session and would never be caught. Their score was backboned by a best of the day ten under par from Shaun McDonnell. Also playing in the early session was Mullingar Community College. The team of Shane Redmond (100), Dean Dinnegan (111) and Nathan Woods (117) totalled 328 to lie six shots back in second. This score would eventually only be enough for third as Coláiste Rís came in with a level par score that threatened the lead but took second. Ronan Molloy (105), Mark Molloy (109) and Dean Mulligan (110) were definitely the most consistent team of the day. Again, the top nine teams qualified for the All-Ireland final at Lakeside. The remaining qualifiers are:
4th: St. John’s Ballyfermot 1
5th: Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa Clara 1
6th: Ardee Community School
7th: Lucan Community School 1
8th: Tullamore College 1
9th: St. Patrick’s Navan 2