Riverdale V Lakeside

This Sunday 05/04/09 sees the final of the Tipperary Spring League in Larkspur Park at 09.30am. The ever impressive Riverdale team have once again qualified for the final but an emerging Lakeside team rallied over the final stages of the league to narrowly defeat Hillview by the narrowest of margins.

Riverdale Captain Rory Hogan will have his charges ready for action in order to retain their title. The stranglehold that Riverdale have on this Championship is simply breathtaking. Since the competitions inception back in the 90's Riverdale have only missed the final on a number of occassions. Going to print Riverdale have not released their team due to tactics but we will try and predict who will be on the team. Sean Minogue has been an ever present presence in the final for them and he will be eager to get another win. 2008 Tipperary Inter County stars John O'Meara and Stephen Shoer will be expected to make up the remaining senior team and Lakeside face a daunting prospect to overhaul these 3 tremendous players. The remaining Intermediate & Junior players from Riverdale is a little more difficult to predict who will be playing. Paul Shoer Snr will definitely be playing after his fantastic score at Larkspur Park in the league stage. Paul Shoer Jnr should be there or there abouts also. The evergreen Victor Long and his son Brian will be knocking on the door but will Rory open it is the question. We expect PJ Ryan who missed out last year due to other committments to return to the final stage. A steely competitor at the best of times, PJ will be anxious to get back in the winners enclosure. Simon Ryan has played well in the league also and could feature. No matter who Riverdale pick on their team they will start the final as Favourites, a tag that is justified.

The Lakeside Eight have been in Larkspur Park on no more than 4 occassions practicing. Captain Paddy Quinn has left no stone unturned to ensure that his charges have every angle covered so that his players can perform to the highest standard. Paul O'Brien, has won everything in Tipperary Pitch & Putt except a Spring League Title, so you can imagine he will be fired up to do well. Noel Stapleton and Davy Morrissey all have the experience needed to deal with the pressures this final will bring. Pat Kennedy the last Captain to lead Lakeside to the League Title is in the form of his life and anxious to do well. Ronan Loughnane is in and out this season but he has reasurred Paddy that is most definitely IN this Sunday. Alan Maher a former All Strokeplay Runner Up ensure Lakeside made the final with his score in Cashel. The ever steady Anthony Maher will lead the Junior charge but he is followed by undoubtedly the player of the league Brian Cahill. Lakeside have talent in abundance but really need to gel quickly as a team if they are pose a threat to their seasoned opponents.

Larkspur Park, probably the best course in the country at present should see a feast of Pitch & Putt this coming Sunday. Who will win though, is the big question on everybodies lips. Why not call over on Sunday morning to lend your support to what should be a cracker of a final.

Civic Reception for Hillview Masters

Last Friday 27th March at the Council Chambers, the Mayor of Clonmel Mr Martin O'Brien offered a civic reception to the achivements of David Hallinan, Margaret Slattery, Rory & Laura O'Hanrahan for their historic achievements in 2008. A huge turnout from both the Hillview Club and Tipperary Co Board ensured that our players got the support required for this unique occassion.

David Hallinan lived up to all the expectation when he captured the All Ireland Junior Strokeplay at Tullamore last July. The ever popular David showed how good he really was when he brought home the title to give Hillview their first Adult Individual National Title since 1961.

Next in line for honours were the dynamic duo of brother and sister Rory & Laura O'Hanrahan. At Castletown in Meath in late September of 2008, Rory & Laura showed maturity beyond their years to capture the All Ireland Mixed Foursomes for the second time in Hillview's history. Bringing home a total of 18up for 36 holes ensured that the Hillview duo would hold of the challenge of the 2007 winners Tracey & Joe McGrath of Erry. This is a tremendous honour for these two young prospects and they have very bright futures ahead of them.

Finally, Margaret Slattery who had the unenviable task of playing on home soil when she set out in trying to win the All Ireland O'55 Ladies Intermediate Strokeplay Title. Could Margaret live up to the pressures of her home course and what was expected of her? Of course she could but not without some drama. Margaret had to endure a 9 hole play off against Veronica Clarke of Killbeggan to snatch victory. Margaret now has the distinction of becoming the first Adult Lady to bring a National Individual title to Hillview.

All four players can be very proud of their achievements and can all look forward to 2009 with great enthusiasm.

Lakeside Duo Remain on NEC

The Co Board would like to congratulate Myles & Helen McMorrow who were both successful in their election to the National Executive Council of the Pitch & Putt Union of Ireland. Helen was elected unanimously as Hon Registrar and Myles was triumphant in this nomination for Vice President. Both people have been excellent administrators going back to the early 80's when they both joined the Tippeary Co Board. Myles then progressed to the now defunct Munster Council but Helen soon followed behind to serve in a number of positions of this board. Myles then joined the PPUI Executive in the late 90's where has remained an ever present member. When the Munster Council defunct in the early 00's Helen decided that she was once again to follow her man to the top of the PPUI Tree where she has remained as Hon Registrar ever since. The Co Board and their club Lakeside are very proud to have two people on the NEC and Tipperary Pitch & Putt is in a very healthy state with administrators of their calibre involved with the Board

Spring League - Round 4

They say home advantage is vital at the closing stages of any competition and Lakeside clearly outlined this advantage last weekend. Coming off a great result in Hillview the previous week, the Lakeside contingent knew that success on their home course would prove imperative for them to reach the Spring League Final for the first time since 2006. Lakeside have been growing in consistency over recent weeks and their players really stepped up to the mark last Sunday, skilfully lead by Paul O’Brien’s –19, Brian Cahill’s masterful –13 and the recharged Paul Tuohy who blasted home –6 in the Junior Grade. Their remaining players who were very consistent in their respective grades ensured they would claim victory on the day and they are now very much on the front foot leading in the last day of the league at Larkspur Park this coming Sunday. Riverdale who had a stumble in Hillview the previous Sunday are not mathematically through to the final, but only a cynic would suggest that they would not make the final. Hillview by coming 3rd at Lakeside ensured that this coming Sunday is really a shoot-out with Lakeside to see who will join Riverdale in the final. Both club’s players are now playing their best after indifferent starts to the League and Sunday’s final round is eagerly awaited. Paddy Quinn’s Lakeside Charges will be chomping at the bit to reach the final where as James Cleary’s Hillview Masters will be very anxious to reach the final in order seek revenge against Riverdale on last years defeat. We are in for a scintillating battle at Larkspur Park this coming Sunday. The Co Board would like to thank the Lakeside Club for the excellent condition in which they presented their course and also to the players who are continuing to support the league in such huge numbers, your support is very much appreciated.
Final round of the league will take place at Larkspur Park on Sunday 08/03/09 at Larkspur Park from 09.30am - 1.30pm.