O GRADY CUP
At the end of 2016 both Sadie Burke and Alan
Reilly were asked to continue in selecting
O’Grady Cup.
At the end of March, the draw took place in
Forrest Little and Malahide were lucky to be
drawn first out in the second half of the draw
giving us 3 matches at home and 2 away all the
way to the final. Drawn against Balbriggan in
the first match we were lucky to win on 20th in
Balbriggan. The team had to get stronger if we
were to progress.
Hermitage was our second opponent and
with the matches played in hermitage starting
earlier and both being lost a call was made
home to say “Over to you we could be going
out” The team rallied and Paddy Noonan and
Janet Lambe winning on 19th to scrap through.
The next round clashed with the Pierce
Purcell who “borrowed” a few players but
with strength in depth we had our easiest win
against our old enemy Corrstown.
Now in the semi-final we had Liam Purdy back
off holidays paired with Joan Doyle and sent on
more holidays to Howth.
For a while it was going too well and looking
like we might win all 5 games but in the end
had to fight hard to go through.
The final is five matches home and away over
2 legs. We had a new opponent Elm Green,
the first time they had been to a final in any
competition. Paired to play away in the first
leg on a fine golf course with tricky greens
we managed to take 2 matches but knew
the return leg would be no walkover. As
confidence had taking a battering in the first
leg we needed to excel at home. At the turn
the game was in a balance with the first two
games down and the last three slightly ahead.
The first match changed in Malahide’s favour
with Alan Reilly & Denise Dowling turning it
around followed by victories by Aileen Conlon
& Martin Dunne, Liam Egan & Niamh Clarke
and finally Liam Purdy and Joan Doyle to win
the match with Liam Purdy holding the winning
shot from the bunker. Celebrations went well
into the early hours.
Alan and Sadie would like to thank all players
that played and supporters. A good result in
Malahide’s 125th year and the O’Grady Cup
25th year of competition.