For obvious reasons, the commencement of the various inter-club matchplay tournaments has been delayed this season and, indeed, many will not happen at all.
However, County Armagh Golf Club was pleased to be able to return to the scaled-down fray in late July — and even more pleased to secure excellent victories in the Senior Cup, the Ulster Cup and the Pierce Purcell Shield.
With the home and away legs in each competition taking place simultaneously, the Senior Cuppers comfortably dispatched Royal County Down in a first round tie on 26 July. Stewart Stevenson, Jarlath McReynolds and John Maguire all capitalised on their home advantage, while Adam Cromwell registered an impressive point on the Newcastle links to seal a 4-1 scoreline in CAGC’s favour.
On the same Sunday as that Senior Cup success, the Pierce Purcell panel, who had earlier received a first round bye, saw off Concra Wood to ensure their further advancement. The pairings of Paul Corvan/Gary Baird, Ronan McWilliams/Tommy Mackin and Ian Millar/Paul Wasson produced the goods to earn a 3-2 win against their Castleblayney opponents. Next up for them is a third round clash with near neighbours Portadown on 16 August, when Ian Millar’s charges will contest two matches in the Cathedral City and three beside the Bann.
Completing the hat-trick of recent CAGC triumphs was the Ulster Cup crew. Marty Daly’s men, who reached the last four in 2018, also received an initial bye, which duly set up a date with Ashfield. Their county rivals couldn’t live with them however, as Cormac O’Hare, Mickey Cullen and Paul Corvan recorded wins on home soil and Ronan McWiliams and Ian Millar — both busy campaigners on the inter-club scene — emerged from their showdowns in south Armagh with a point apiece.
Nigel McMahon and Paul McCurry, selected as unofficial on-course vice captains, did a sterling job in keeping competitors up to date with the state of play, and the 5-2 result means that CAGC can look forward to an Ulster Cup third round match against as yet unconfirmed adversaries. Ashfield though were to exact a form of revenge as they eliminated CAGC from the Jimmy Bruen Shield.
On Sunday 8 August, Jimmy Wilson’s Senior Cup side face a second round meeting with Lisburn, while the Junior Cup squad, led by skipper Stewart Stevenson, will take on Slieve Russell. County Armagh Golf Club would like to thank everyone involved for giving up their time to represent our club teams and wish the best of luck to all those involved in upcoming encounters.
