JUNIOR CUP TEAM
In 2017 Malahide Junior Cup team put in a strong
performance to qualify out of Beaverstown for
the Leinster Finals. In the stroke play qualifying
Malahide came in 3rd and were drawn to play
Beaverstown in the knockouts on Sunday. Win a 3-2
victory secured we were paired against Howth in the
afternoon final.
This was a close match with victory achieved at the
19th hole by Philip Smith. We had made it through
to the Leinster Finals in Callan Co. Kilkenny on the
29th & 30th July. Callan is a tree lined course where
accuracy off the tee was vital to have a shot to the
slick greens.
In the Qtr. final we were drawn against Hollystown
and secured a 3-2 win.
In the afternoon semi-final, we played Dundalk and
in this thrilling match Malahide won through to the
final thanks to a superb win by Ryan Gibson with a
winning birdie at the 20th hole.
In the final we played the Grange GC (last year’s
beaten Leinster Finalists) and they proved too
strong on the day. The team was managed by Tom
Rusk who has the nucleus of the team available for
2018.
THE PIERCE PURCELL STORY
2015 LEINSTER SEMI, 2016 LEINSTER SEMI
2017 LEINSTER FINAL
“I really thought it was our year”.
Malahide led the qualification in Sutton 11 shots
ahead of Royal Dublin and played Royal Dublin in
match play to qualify with a convincing 4&1 win
over Royal Dublin. It was then over to Corrstown
to play Donabate with the winner getting through
to the Leinster quarter final after a very tight match
Patrick Jordan and John Dolan won on 19 to get us
through.
Next up was Headfort in Blackbush and another
win on 19 with Jimmy Kennedy and Bob Sandford
holding their nerve on 19 with a fantastic up and
down from the bunker for us to win 3&2 and
qualify for another Leinster Semi-final.
With the Leinster Finals in Callan on July 29/30th
and the Junior cup team already having qualified
for the finals there was high hope this was our year
when we won our semi-final v Rathcore 4 &1 and
Royal Curragh awaited us in the final.
Unfortunately, we lost the vital match on 19 after a
ding dong battle and the pennant awaits us still. I
would like to thank Kieron Bracken and the squad
for all their commitment through the year and wish
the new management the best going forward.
Hopefully 2018 can be our year
Declan Markey Team Manager