Carlow win the Naas Cup 

Carlow Golf Club has won the Naas Cup. After coming through a tough group stage, a Carlow seven-man team beat Wicklow in the final at Naas recently.

The competition was introduced two years ago and from a modest field of three clubs in 2002 and eight last year, Carlow came out on top this year where 15 teams initially entered.

With seven per team playing singles match play, the competition was introduced to give a chance to young golfers who might have limited opportunities to play inter-club golf. It is also aimed at growing the participation of golfers from 18 years of age up to 27. To be eligible, the players have also to be in the 0-15 handicap range.

Over the season, 15 players represented Carlow where they won their opening match against Tulfarris. Carlow had a slight advantage with four of their players at home and three away. It was the other way around for their match against Killeen where Carlow only had three games at home. It turned out not to be a problem as they came through to advance to the knock-out stages where they came up against Kilkenny.

Eamonn Long and Dylan Lambe managed the side. Even getting to this stage was an achievement but Long said the panel is a united bunch.

“There was hard calls to make picking players over other players. Everyone was very amenable. That kind of stuff was so important,” said Eamonn.

“It was the willingness to fight for each other. There was good camaraderie.

Everybody was getting along.” The Kilkenny match was a potential banana skin. The Marble City club is potentially strong at underage level. Played over two days, Carlow won one match at home and lost two. In teak tough encounters, it was the away players who pulled the team through winning three matches, one on the 18th and two on the 19th.

The next round Carlow were easy 6-1 winners over Tullamore with victory putting them into the decider.

And so it was on to an historic day against Wicklow. Carlow started well with Kevin Healy and Paul Dermody winning early on. James Lennon was also a winner. With three wins out of seven ensured the tension escalated as Carlow edged towards victory. With so much happening in other matches, Ivan Jones was credited with sinking the winning putt.

It was a proud moment for the players, the management team and the Carlow club.

“The lads were all ten-foot tall.

“The youngest was 21 and the oldest was 27. They are all getting into their golf now and some of those are not playing the game that long,” said Long who alluded to the spirit within the squad..

“Communication and getting on together,” was key said Long.

“A lot of the lads didn’t know each other that well at the start and that was one thing Dylan and me focussed on. I would have played with some of the lads with the ethos of getting them involved and getting them to know each other. Especially the younger ones.” The joint-manager said this victory didn’t just happen and took some time in the making.

“Leon Fitzpatrick was on the management team last year,” he said.

“He put in a huge effort and it all helped this year.

“We also got great support from the likes of Jamie Kenny and Stephen Doyle. The management team couldn’t be in two places at the one time so their help and input was invaluable,” added Long.

Long confirmed the presence in Naas of Men’s Captains Tony Crowe and Lady Captain, Melíosa Walshe, with vice-Captain, Alan Whelan alongside Club President, Jeanette Fitzgerald meant so much to him and the players.

Carlow v Wicklow: Paul Harland, Paul Dermody, Ivan Jones, Tomas Walsh, Jamie Byrne, James Lennon, Kevin Healy.

Rest of panel: Howard Jones, Anthony Keating, Dylan Keightley, Cian Doyle, Colm Hulton, Eric Hanley, Conor Doyle, Conor Hayden.