Munster success for Limerick U-18 golfers

Limerick Golf Club had a dramatic win in the Fred Daly Trophy Munster final on Saturday when they beat Waterford Castle on the 19th hole in the prestigious U-18 competition. 

Newcastle West Golf Club was again the venue for the second day of Munster finals, which saw two exciting semi-finals take place in the morning. 

In the morning matches Waterford Castle were taken to the 19th by Ballybunion before they won.  Limerick had a good win against 2015 winners Mallow.  They beat the Munster Champions 3-2 with very solid performances from all of their golfers. 

Both teams stuck with the same players for the final and at the half-way point Limerick had a narrow lead.  Waterford Castle took the first point when Munster and Ireland golfer Andrew Mulhall beat Sean Enright on the 16th green.

 Limerick evened the score when Connacht Boys winner Ciaran Vaughan beat Ryan O’Connor.  Jack Power added second point for Waterford Castle and Morgan Hanley won for Limerick meaning it was all down to the last match. 

Limerick’s Ross Fitzgerald was three up playing the 15th, needing only one more win to seal the match.  Waterford Castle’s Brian Sheridan put in a great performance to keep the match alive, he won the 15th and 16th, and after a great putt on the 17th for a half, he calmly rolled a 7 foot downhill putt on the last to take the match down the 19th. 

There was a great crowd present from both clubs at the testing par five 1st hole which had been used to settle matches on five occasions over the two days. 

Unfortunately for Sheridan his second shot skirted with the out of bounds on the left and despite an extensive search the ball couldn’t be found. 

This handed the advantage to Fitzgerald and Limerick won the match.  Limerick now go on to the All-Ireland finals in Galway in two weeks’ time where they will face the Leinster champions in the semi-final.