Portumna golfers are the kings of Connacht

Date Published: 11-Aug-2010

Declan Tierney 

For the third time in 10 years Portumna Golf Club have captured the provincial Junior Cup title when they defeated County Sligo in dramatic fashion with no match going past the 16th hole at Castlebar. 

In fact a couple of costly errors on the part of the North Connacht side, particularly on the treacherous 16th green, provided Portumna with the opportunity to close out two vital matches with one having already been in the bag. 

It was an impressive display from Matt Donoghue’s charges who led from an early stage in their first three matches while the other two did not get off to good starts and struggled as they tried to play catch up. 

But the focus of attention was very much on the three matches out front and while one was never in any real doubt, it was always touch and go in the other two but that all changed after the 16th green which us just underneath the elevated clubhouse. 

The undulating slopes on the green make it a putting nightmare and the pin position on Saturday presented a lot of difficulties for the players – and particularly those who were either above the hole or a long way short of the pin. 

But it was where both Ger Lynch and Shane Ryan of Portumnaconsolidated their performances as they went on to win their respective matches on the next hole. 

Earlier Sean Cleary had produced a phenomenal display for Portumna when he took control of his match at a very early stage and never relinquished the initiative. 

He was four and five up early on and despite losing the eighth hole, he responded with a birdie at 11 to go five up again. Cleary eventually closed out the match on the 15th after an impressive performance which delighted the Portumna fans.