Tipperary Teams Take Third

Cloghogue was the venue of the Ladies and Gents Inter County Championships for 2009 and what a feast of Pitch & Putt our teams displayed. The ladies were rank outsiders to get a medal but the team was very confident they could get in the medals for the first time since 1990. They got a great draw when playing with Cork and every player tried their livings best to bring home the spoils. Led my leading light Michelle McCarthy who returned -1, Tipp were nicely poised to raise a gallop. Margaret Webster, Bridget Shelley and Martha O'Brien were next to come in and all played incredibly well considering they were only permitted to play one practice round due to the inclement weather conditions. Last but by no means least Brid Ryan led the girls to claim the Bronze medal. Brid has been at the forefront of the ladies game for well over a decade now and it was fitting that she would have the final say to get Tipp the Bronze medal. This Tipperary team if they stick together and perhaps get one or two more inclusions could well challenge for this Championship over the next few years.

The Men took to the Tee at 9am on a rain soaked Cloghogue the following morning. The wind was swirling and the rain was heavy but this didn't dampen the spirits of the lads. Noel Joyce led the team from outset, Noel Stapleton, James Cleary, Sean Minogue and Paul O'Brien followed. Cleary who has had an indifferent season really got going in horrendous conditions to post a fantastic -5 for his opening 18 holes while the remaining 4 players playing consistently well. However come with the man come with the hour, the evergreen Minogue who made his debut for Tipperary back in 1979 produced his best pitch and putt for Tipperary since 1995 when he captained the team to victory. Sean's 2nd round of 47 left him on -10 overall and he brought Tipperary to the Bronze medal for the 3rd successive year. It has to be said though that the Tipp lads might look back on this and wonder did they leave it behind them. This team are slowly getting to the level needed to challenge for this title in the next few years they have a serious change to challenging once again for the Anchor Cup