The winner of Sunday’s 15 hole competition was Andrew Prior with 37 points. Brian Feeley was in second place with 36 points. Detta Cox won the ladies’ weekly 9 hole competition with 21 points. Marguerite Farrell was in second place with 20 points. Jim Finn was the winner of the first of the weekly 9 hole Christmas Turkey Competitions with 21 points (back 6).
Last week we looked back on the significant achievements of our junior girls. This week we review a very successful year for our junior boys. Our Fred Daly Team of David Hill, Sean Doyle, Allan Hill, Ross Murphy-Sweeney, James Walker, Jack McGahan, and Mark Kearney were very narrowly beaten in the Fred Daly Trophy Connacht Regional Semi Final, losing the last match on the 18 hole to a well fancied Co. Sligo Golf Club Team. This team performed superbly on the way to this semi- final and will no doubt be a force next year. Allan Hill was selected on the Under 15 Inter- provincial team. Allan also represented Ireland in the Reed Cup in the UK. All this followed his winning of the Leinster Boys under 15 title and more recently the Darren Clarke Challenge in Portmarnock, which, is a competition for all the winners of the regional provincial competitions. Allan was also 3rd in Connacht Under 15 Championship. Allan won the Roscommon Golf Club Junior Golfer of the Year for his efforts in 2013/14 season.
Our Irish junior foursomes team of David Hill and James Walker with Allan Hill and Ross Murphy Sweeney finished in the top four in the qualifying competition played over our home course during the summer. In the Kenny Cup we fielded 3 teams in Boyle Golf Club this year, blooding many of the younger players like Fionn Hoare, Richard King and Orin Hoare. There were some great performances on a most enjoyable competition. At the Connacht Boys U15 interclub competition in Cregmore Golf, the club was well represented by a very young team of Jack McGahon, Kevin Connaugton, Joe Finnegan, Thomas Higgins and Cian O’Connor. We were narrowly beaten in the Perpetual Challenge Match with Longford for the Michael Divney Cup. Ross Murphy-Sweeney, Cian O’Connor, Michael Corcoran and Fionn Hoare all won their matches and the team were beaten on 18 in two other matches. We lost 4 points to 6 with a very young team and had any of the aforementioned matches been won on 18 we would have retained the cup.
Allan Hill is currently playing off 2 and represented the club at senior level in Barton Shield and Junior Cup. David Hill is now playing off 2 handicap and represented the club at senior level in Barton Shield and Junior Cup. Alan Connaughton won the 1st nett in the Munster Boys Under 13 Open competition shooting a sparkling 82 gross score which left him on 59 nett to capture the Nett prize. Cian O’Connor lost 13 shots from his handicap, capturing the Leinster Boys Under 11 category in the Leinster Boys Under 13 Open Competition. He also won the Under 11 US Kids Leinster qualifier by 12 shots shooting a 2 under par gross score at the Blackbush Golf Club. Simon Walker was 8th in the Irish Under 13 Amateur Open Championship in Malahide with a great score of 85 gross. Joe Finnegan, Alan Connaughton, Thomas Higgins, Cian O’Connor & Simon Walker all qualified for the Boys Connacht Close Finals in Tuam Golf Club. All the boys played well in the finals.
Thomas Higgins won the player of the year with most shots lost and is now playing off a handicap of 8. Thomas won many of the open Friday and Sunday Competitions. He continues to be a force to be reckoned with for any opponent and is a hot prospect for the future. He performed well in all the provincial championships. Thomas Higgins, Simon Walker and Cian O’Connor were runners up in the Men’s Spring League taking many notable scalps on the way. This was a great achievement considering the average age of the team was 11 years old. Since then the boys have lost a cumulative 30 shots off their handicaps.
The following boys have been selected on various panels for Connacht for coaching during the winter months: David Hill, Allan Hill, Simon Walker, Jack McGahan, Alan Connaughton, Joe Finnegan, Michael Corcoran, Kevin Connaughton, Cian O’Connor, Fionn Hoare and Matthew Ryan Clarke. Allan Hill has also been selected for the National under 16 panel.
Albert O’Connor and John Walker would like to thank all the boys, their parents, fellow members and the Men’s Committee for their cooperation and participation in a great year for Roscommon Junior Boys Golf!