Leinster Inter-County Championships:
Cement Pitch and Putt Club, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Sunday 11th August 2013 @ 11.30 a.m.

Gents Draw:

Dublin and Down
Westmeath and Monaghan
Kildare and Wexford
Longford and Offaly
Meath and Louth

The Leinster Inter-County Championships on Sunday is quite remarkable in that most teams are quite evenly matched in terms of form this year, with few standout performances, yet almost everyone seems to be of the opinion that this will be a straightforward competition, and that the hosts have it in the bag! Well I’ve never been one to go along with popular opinion!

Dublin:
Capt: (Non-playing) Joe Flanagan
Mark Millar (Shandon); Junior Smith (RGSC); Chris Gallagher (Lucan); Anthony “Skinner” Malone (Lucan); John Ross Crangle (Loughlinstown); Paul Nolan (Erin’s Isle); [Sub: Keith Redmond (Shandon)]

Dublin are in the unusual position (in Leinster anyway) of being in the opening two-ball, and that really will help the competition as a whole as there should be a big crowd of supporters shoe-horned onto the course from early, as the men get proceedings underway. This will add to the atmosphere on the day definitely.
The Dublin team on paper is the strongest by far, yet there is little to suggest that Dublin deserve to be called favourites. In a difficult year for Leinster players, Dubliners were not exempt from the suffering, with Crangle having the only bright point, with his continued domination in the Leinster Matchplay. Malone can rightly argue he had a good season, but his quarter-final elimination in Lucan was premature, and he could have fared even better in Rocklodge but for one or two momentary lapses in concentration.
The Dublin Chairman will be expecting big things from his charges, and is likely to lead by example. Crucially all players have inter-county experience and winning championship experience (well, nearly all), so they’ll know what is expected.
Gallagher and Nolan are pivotal to their chances. If they can break 50 in the singles, Dublin will be in the driving seat.

Down:
Capt:
Liam McMahon; Cathal O'Hare; Niall Quigley; Ronan Hollywood; Conor O'Hare;
Paul O'Hagan (all Cloghogue)
Down partner the Metropolitan’s and most of their players will be relatively well-known and familiar with these championships. They will be helped by the fact that Cement will be almost like a home-course to the Mourne-men, and should pull them closer to the likes of Offaly and further away from Longford and Monaghan.
A relative newcomer is Ronan Hollywood, and Down will need him to cope well if they are to stand any chance of success, remote as that might seem. Liam McMahon is Down’s form player, but that form is relative to Cloghogue, so it will take a massive effort for them to get close to their zenith of 1999. The two mainstays of that victorious Leinster winning team in Clonee was Conor O’Hare and Paul O’Hagan, and they return yet again tomorrow, but both are very different players to the ones that played so well in 99. He’ll be delighted to hear this, but Declan McConville is a big loss to them.

Westmeath:
Capt: Mick Buckley
John Browne (Collinstown); Michael Buckley (Collinstown); Pat Malone (Custume); Liam Buckley (Collinstown); Rene Jan Bloem (Collinstown); Alan Hanlon (Collinstown);
Pairings:
Malone & Browne; Bloem & Hanlon; Liam & Mick Buckley

The men from the Lakelands County are my dark horses for this competition. Their manager and County Chairman, Messr’s Carter and Corcoran will be annoyed and overjoyed respectively for my mentioning of this. My respect for the ethos and work ethic that goes into the way Westmeath conduct themselves is well-known. I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with some of these guys quite closely the past few years, and it has always seemed like their is a bigger picture going on, and that all the efforts are for the good of Westmeath Pitch and Putt.
Carter has put Trojan work to try and ensure that his promotion to the job will be a success (after the sterling work that the National PRO Davy Reddin put in for many years, Westmeath made the tough decision to change manager at the start of this year), and Carter has left no stone unturned in his efforts to make Westmeath capture silverware.  
He has a team to be proud of too, one which teamwork and partnership is central. Bloem is an excellent addition to their squad, and his competitive instinct, allied to Hanlon, will be key to pushing them on. Browne is the key here. If he can score in the singles, then I think the rest will have enough to put together. Doubles has always seen Westmeath strong.
They will go close.

Monaghan:
Capt:
Michael Vaughan; John Rowland; Stefan Fallon; Paudie Neary; Aidan Quinn; Bob Hillard
(all Inniskeen)

I’m absolutely thrilled to say that partnering the Lakelander’s will be our newest county and first-time entrants, Monaghan. This is a wonderful development for the Leinster Inter-County, and I know everyone will give them the encouragement they richly deserve on Sunday, and I hope they will enjoy the experience, and push them on further.

Ironically enough, while all the Farneymen are based in the Monaghan club of Inniskeen, they are all blow-ins! Michael Vaughan, the Inniskeen club secretary gave me a detailed background to his teammates on Friday night, and I am very grateful to him for his help. He was quite humble in his assessment of his team, but they will do themselves no disservice in the spotlight.
Michael himself is the current regional Inter Strokeplay and Matchplay champion, an exceptional achievement in itself; originally from Wexford, Vaughan has plenty of experience from his days in St Pats, and he has played inter-county for Wexford previously, albeit a longtime ago at underage level. Two Louth natives are Aidan Quinn and Bob Hillard who are both juniors from Inniskeen but are eager for Sunday, and we wish them well. Hopefully we’ll know a bit more about them after Sunday.
Armagh native John Rowland is the current regional Junior Matchplay champion so the adopted Carney men are far from novices. The other junior player on the Monaghan team is another adopted son, in the form of Stefan Fallon who is originally from Roscommon. Paudie Neary is the remaining player and one of the strongest players, a solid intermediate.

It is by no means condescending to say that competing for the first time on Sunday is a victory in itself, but it is true. I applaud these six men for taking this huge step but from little acorns do great things grow, and who knows maybe in 30 years time this one-club county will replicate the past heroics of Down and Wexford.
I had an enjoyable phone conversation with Michael Vaughan on Friday and the enthusiasm that is coming from the guys is palpable.

As has been pointed out to me in the past few days Inniskeen have been well informed at juvenile level in the not too distant past so maybe this will be the start of something good for the brilliant blue jerseys of Monaghan, and they can provide an example to the two remaining counties to get involved.

Kildare:
Capt:
Darren Keogh (Ryston); Joe Ronan (McDonagh); Ian Dillon (St. Bridget’s); Frank Ryan (St. Bridget’s); Cathal Swift (Ryston); John Cullen (St. Bridget’s)

What to make of Kildare? The makings of a very competent team, they possibly are two short of beings serial contenders. It’s hard not to imagine them as one of the favourites if Carey or Courtney in their recent pomp were involved, but that’s hypothetical. They are probably just to the back of the mid-ranking counties, but they shocked plenty over in Tullamore a couple of years ago when they capitalised on awful conditions to post a score the remaining counties couldn’t touch.
The team will surely to look to build on the success of Frank Ryan and Joe Ronan who have both had good seasons, and when you add to that the calibre of Ian Dillon, that is already within half a shout. Darren Keogh is a very steady player, while Cathal Swift and Johnny Cullen are both tenacious enough in their own right, and will fancy a challenge. If they could get a start in the doubles, then they have an outside chance. If not, then I’d fear for them.

Wexford:
Capt: Willie Hudson
Paul Tobin; Martin O’Neill; Conor Murphy; Dean Grannell; Kevin Doyle (replaces Jim Foley for Leinster only)
(all St Patrick’s)

Sunday is interesting for Wexford. On the one hand, you could argue that last September’s success in the National Inter-County was a flash in the pan, and the result would not be repeated if played on any other course in the country. I think that’s a fair statement; however, you must look at the manner in which they clawed Cork back as the singles went on, and then surpassed them on the final hole. That’s not a fluke, that’s brilliance. This is a group of fellows who did very well in Portmarnock the year before too. Martin O’Neill is their biggest traveller, and is a constant menace in scratch cups and championships, but it is Paul Tobin who is their dangerman, as he proved again with a superb performance to rocket to second place in the Leinster Strokeplay – again with nothing expected of him.

These guys are hampered by their location, their remoteness, their small county numbers, and by inexperience. Yet they are always achieving. Kevin Doyle replaces Jim Foley for Sunday, and while that is most definitely a blow, Doyle is a super player, and would be better-known only for the oft-mentioned disadvantages. Willie Hudson and Conor Murphy are two players that have plenty of experience of playing for Wexford and will not be fazed by the Cement course. Dean Grannell is another player that if you haven’t heard of before, then you will in the coming years, if he can stick at the game. Very determined, this guy definitely adds a bit of colour to the sport, but he’s far from a novelty and performed extremely well in both Leinster championships.
They are between the rock and a hard place: possibly just too far back to win, but way too good to be in the pack. Hillview might be where we see them come alive with their title on the line.

Longford:
Capt: Noel Comiskey (Snr);
Thomas Kelly; Francie Kelly; Roy Burke; Noel Comiskey (Jnr); Declan Comiskey
(all Granard).

It’s a difficult task that awaits Longford. There is no expectation on them either inside or outside the county, and that won’t bother them. They’d play their 36 holes the same way anyway. There was long-awaited Championship success for the county when Tom Kelly captured the Leinster Junior Matchplay in brilliant fashion in Erry, and doing so in the semi-final with another set of clubs shows there is talent there. Roy Burke and Noel Comiskey are the players that Longford will hope can fire a score, and Noel in particular could go well if he’s in the humour. Joined by Noel Jnr, Declan Comiskey and Francie Kelly, it is a tall order for Longford to see silverware, but a more realistic goal should be to come out of top of the outsiders, thereby targeting Down, Monaghan and perhaps Offaly.

Offaly:
Capt: Larry Maher (Erry)
Billy Buckley (Erry); William Buckley (Erry); Joe McGrath (Erry); Graham Newman (Erry); Mick Hogan (Tullamore)

A difficult Championship for the Faithful county; they have the talent within the county to be threatening the big boys, and the titles, scr cups and medals accumulated by a number of players in the past two decades, means the return at county level must be regarded as a disappointment. There is a perpetual sense of Offaly could contend only for it to fall short.

The scoring throughout the season hasn’t been hectic either, the highlight being the Leinster Matchplay where Hogan and O’Connell reached the semi’s only to fall short, and worryingly O’Connell failed to feature whatsoever in the trials. Maher did very well to place 3rd in the Leinster Strokeplay, another step up for him, while Buckley always seems to impress when it seems he’s on the downhill slope, and Billy Snr has done well to be fair this season to get back on the county team. McGrath will need to reproduce his midland knowledge and post a decent return.

If they can get the pairings right, and it will be crucial, then they might stand a chance. However it is the singles that has undermined them in the past, and really a solid consistent effort from all 6 will be needed to stand any chance of a medal. 3rd could be the height of their ambition.

Meath:
Capt:
Eamonn Gibney (Stackallen); Patrick Mc Bride (Stackallen); Sean Downes (Stackallen); Ian Farrelly ( Bellewstown); Colin Somers (Stackallen); Fintan Wogan (Stackallen)

The holders will roll up on Sunday morning. They will play 36 holes and they’ll go home. No fuss, no drama, no whooping, regardless of whether they win or come last. The same fella’s more or less who keep coming back year in, year out, with the minimum of changes. Somers returns, and I’m sure everyone will be delighted to hear Colin dish out the advice, what rule you got wrong, why you missed the putt, etc. whether you want to hear it or not. Joking aside, it has always seemed a waste to have a player of his ability walking around watching, when he is very talented. I welcome you back Colin.
Eamon Gibney did very well in topping the trials, and he has steadily risen in stature these past couple of years. He is now expected to do well at championships – a mark that the individual has broken through the glass ceiling. I can add nothing new on McBride, Farrelly or Downes as I’ve discussed them many times. If they both are on song, Meath will have a good chance. If they’re not, they’ve nil.
Fintan Wogan is the player that will be key for Meath on Sunday. If he can augment his teammates, then there is no reason why Meath shouldn’t consider themselves in with a shout. The problem for me is that there are too many “ifs”...

Louth:
Capt: Ian Donnelly (Cement);
Johnny Campbell Snr (Cement); Sean Goggin (Cement); Shane Redmond (Channonrock); Feichin Rath (Seapoint); Johnny Campbell jnr (Cement); Sub: Richard Lambe (Cement)

The outright favourites in most people’s eyes given the good blend of youth, experience snf plain old championship winning ability, the facts are simple: Louth in the majority of the courses in Ireland are one prospect. Louth in Cement is an altogether different prospect. The stories coming back about challenge results and the scores being shot remind me of a time pre-social media where we in Leinster would hear of the -18 under par cuts for scratch cups in Cork (we at least know that they were playing 72 hole scr cups, with a cut after 54 holes) and the reality was always somewhere between the two.

Challenge matches for fellas with zero recent top level Championship silverware are one thing on a quiet Tuesday night where nobody really cares; producing the goods when the pressure is at its greatest under the spotlight is a totally new mindset (For example, just ask Old County’s Karl Murphy who really suffered under the pressure in his club Matchplay during the week, when he was given quite the slapped bottom by a relative newcomer who was playing with new clubs and a ping-pong ball. There’s always next year Karl. If you come across Karl, please feel obliged to console him)

So that is the challenge that the 6 Louth players face. Donnelly made it his business to let me know he is the captain on Sunday, so he is obviously pumped up. There is a clear view of the Boyne Bridge from Cement, so he is going to be a vital cog in the Louth wheel. The two Campbell’s John Snr, and John Jnr bring the experience, and oodles of talent as well. Indeed John was a huge success at the Leinster Strokeplay too, something I just couldn’t foresee, so my congratulations to him.
Goggin is just on another level, and has been for a while now. Arguably in the top 10 in the country, and certainly only bettered by Crangle in Leinster this decade, he is disadvantaged by the size of the county and the sheer desperation to just escape the qualifiers at times.

Shane Redmond is one of the coming players in Louth, from the Channonrock stable. He has the talent, the ruthlessness and a bit of the arrogance that all the great players need to make them what they are, and this boy has shown glimpses of the devastating skills he has at his disposal. From good stock, he was always destined to be a top player as most of us have seen him develop through the years. Tomorrow is another milestone for him, and his performance could be what elevates Louth ahead of the pack.

The final part of the team is Feichin Rath, and word inside the camp is that they’re delighted with him, and have no doubts that he will be central to victory if it happens tomorrow. High praise and confidence to have that being said about you by your partners indeed! The party could get quite Louth tomorrow evening.

 Prediction:

The likelihood is that Louth will win, but I just don’t fancy them. Of course I’ll likely get it in the ear if they do win, and rightly so. But from the outset of this season, I’ve been impressed by Westmeath and how they’ve gone about their business. I think the scoring will be high on Sunday, and I think they are in with a great chance. Dublin for me do not look like a comfortable fit as a team, but I wouldn’t right them off. Wexford probably have too much to do, and Meath and Kildare are just too unpredictable.

Winner: Westmeath
Runner-up: Louth
Dark horse: Dublin.