AN HISTORIC CLUB WITH A MAGNIFICENT GEORGIAN PARKLAND SETTING SINCE 1893

Tim Teahan's All-Ireland Four-Ball Trophy squad have extended their interest in the competition with an impressive 5·5-4·5 victory over Mannan Castle.

The team's first round defeat of Ballyliffin last time out was built largely on a fruitful home performance, and it was a similar story again as County Armagh secured a commanding 4-1 lead on local soil on Sunday 7 May.

Amid sweltering heat, the outstanding result in that first leg came in the final match, where Brendan Lynch and Gerry Doyle were four holes down before staging a remarkable recovery that eventually saw them win the contest through Brendan's fine par at the 18th. As sparks to ignite such comebacks go, Gerry's sensational hole-in-one at the 11th takes some beating and perhaps sowed the first seeds of doubt in the minds of their opponents.

Elsewhere, tight encounters yielded vital successes for the pairings of Norman Mallon and Ken Gordon, Tony Fagan and Tomas McElmeel, and Paul Quinn and Philip Devlin.

On the following Sunday 14 May, the panel made the short trip to Carrickmacross for a return leg from which they required at least 1·5 points to ensure their progression. Just as in Donegal last month, a tense afternoon was to unfold, especially with the home team dominating early proceedings from which they earned three valuable points.

The overall tie hung in the balance and, after 13 holes, County Armagh were up in one of the remaining matches but down in the other. However, Martin Grimley and Tomas McElmeel regained control in match 4, winning three holes on the spin to reach the 17th tee 2 up and, therefore, certain of at least half a point.

Up ahead in match 3, Oliver Connell and newcomer Daryl Lawson gained the decisive point on the penultimate green to the great relief and satisfaction of team captain and players alike. 

The triumphant County Armagh second round panel was made up of Oliver Connell, Philip Devlin, Gerry Doyle, Tony Fagan, Ken Gordon, Martin Grimley, Pat Hughes, Daryl Lawson, Brendan Lynch, Norman Mallon, Pat McAleavey, Tomas Mc Elmeel and Paul Quinn.

So, County Armagh's Four-Ball Trophy bandwagon rolls on to round three where it will pitch up at Edenmore, who most recently fended off the challenge of Donaghadee.

In other club team news, Ian Millar's Pierce Purcell charges safely negotiated the qualifying stages at Killymoon to set up a first round clash with Moyola Park at the same venue.

Meanwhile, the Jimmy Bruen side, led by Declan McReynolds, will face Cloverhill in the opening round after sealing qualification on home turf.

Congratulations to all three teams and best of luck for the respective challenges that lie ahead.