Miltown Win Tight Connacht Final on Back 9 Finish

Galway’s Miltown GAA Club have completed the line up for the 2008 FBD GAA Golf Challenge All-Ireland final after winning the Connacht final at Claremorris golf club last Friday.

It was the closest finish to date in a provincial final with Galway clubs sweeping the board bringing home the first five teams with just one point separating them all.  A large crowd gathered around the scoreboard as the top three teams, which all finished on 82 points, were eventually decided on by their back nine scores.

Long time leaders, Turloughmore, were edged out of contention by Miltown late on in the day but Miltown’s lead in turn was far from safe.  Jarlath Cloonan’s Athenry were first to challenge it.  Cloonan paired up with Norman Farrell and scored 42 points, with team mates Luke Glynn and Mixie Donoghue adding 40, matching Miltown’s 82 points.  Their back nine score of 39, however, was beaten by Headford who also scored 82 points but ended up in second place after a back nine finish of 41. 

Headford’s Charlie O’Sullivan and Mike Fahey scored 39 points while Monty Henegan and Pat Fahey contributed 43.  Had Fahey’s chip on to the 18^th green not travelled so far past the pin, Headford might have been crowned provincial champions.  But in the end it was Miltown, with John Concannon and Pat Garvey bringing home 44 points and Eamon Blake and Cathal Sheridan adding 38, who took home the coveted title with a back nine score of 42.

A nail biting finish to the provincial stages then.  Miltown will now challenge Lismore, Cavan Gaels, St. Brigid’s and Roscommon GAA of New York at the exclusive Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford at the FBD GAA Golf Challenge All-Ireland final on the second weekend in September. 

Connacht Final Scoreboard:

1. Miltown, Galway 82pts (back nine 42)

2. Headford, Galway 82pts (back nine (41)

3. Athenry, Galway 82pts (back nine 39)

4. Kilimerday, Galway 81pts (back nine 41)

5. Turloughmore, Galway 81pts (back nine 39)