20th July 2008 Offaly Matchplay Finals at Ferbane & Offaly Masters at Erry.

The final instalment of the county championships took place in the form of the county matchplay championships last week. The highly anticipated championship did not disappoint and was not short in throwing up a few upsets along the way. The current County Strokeplay and recently crowned Leinster Matchplay champions William Buckley Jnr and Tracey McGrath were certainly held amongst the favourites to add another title to their names. The preliminary rounds got under way last Monday evening in the surrounds of Ferbane Pitch and Putt and stages continued throughout the week to curtail the contenders down to two finalist hopefuls on Friday evening.

In the Gents Senior Grade a week of highly entertaining play saw the final come down to a local derby between Ferbane's ever steady and dependable Patsy Reams and big hitter Noel Duffy. Patsy's run to the final included close victories over club mate Kieran Egan in the Quarter-Finals and Erry's Joe McGrath Jnr in the Semi-Final who had beaten the favourite William Buckley Jnr in the Quarters. Noel's path to the final included victories over Erry's Billy Buckley Snr. and Tullamore's big lefty Mick Hogan. The final got off to a blistering first few holes with Patsy laying down his authority on the game early. It was a tightly anticipated game between the two but it never materialised on this blustery Friday evening in Ferbane. It is not clear whether it was down to nerves on the night that Noel could not produce the goods or just sheer class and experience on Patsy's part cut but it was Patsy who convincingly won this encounter. In a great display of sportsmanship Noel was at the centre of Patsy's celebrations that night. The Inter Gents Final was contested by Tullamore's Darren O'Connell and Martin Mills, Darren receiving a walkover on the night as Martin failed to be available to play. Martin had beaten Ferbane's Declan Heffernan in the Semi-Final. Darren overcame the challenge of Erry's hotshot Graham Newman, who had an unfortunate accident the night before practicing, but his eagerness to play could not keep him away. He was a favourite amongst the spectators who were all happy to see him back fighting fit. The O'Connell brothers made it a double victory as Darren's younger brother Michael won the Junior Grade. Michael had a hard fought game in the Semi's against Erry's Michael Mullen eventually winning on the fourth extra tie hole. However, he refused to have any anxious moments in the final, in the end winning convincingly over new arrival to the game Michael Kenny. Michael showed he certainly has the undeveloped skills for the game that will shine through in the coming season, a junior to watch out for!

Unfortunately there was a low entry in the ladies sections of the championship, this may have been due to the stages being held during week evenings. But the dedicated and long time stalwarts of the game came out in force in the Inter grade that was dominated by Erry's Geraldine Ryan. Just off the back of a fine performance in the National Strokeplay the week before in Rocklodge, Geraldine was brimming with confidence and overcame her long serving friend Eileen Guerin in the Semi-Final to set up a Final with Ferbane's Ann Minnogue. The final was a tight affair and extra tie holes were needed to separate the pair. In the end it was Geraldine who got one or two fortunate hops over her worthy opponent and won on the fourth extra tie hole. The Senior Ladies Final was contested between Erry's and defending champion Helen Wynne and Tracey McGrath. This was the second encounter within two weeks for this pairing. They had just gone head to head in the Leinster Matchplay championships in Erry, in what was a very tight and entertaining game in which Tracey edged out the winner 2/1. This was a chance for Helen to get some revenge over her recent loss, but in a game of great pitch and putt it was Tracey's impressive pitching that overwhelmed Helen on the night and saw her add the County Matchplay to her Leinster Matchplay title.

A word of thanks must be paid to the organisers and sponsors of the championship that was run so smoothly over five nights without any glitches. Also thanks must be extended to the Ferbane Committee for presenting the course in fine condition for the event.

It was a busy 7 days for the Offaly County Board, following the County Matchplay Championships it was the turn of the Offaly Masters Scratch Cup to take centre stage in Erry. And what a week it proved to be for Ferbane's Patsy Reams. Patsy fresh off his Offaly Matchplay title posted an early clubhouse lead with rounds of -9 and -10 for total -19. This proved to be the score to beat and it was Erry's William Buckley Jnr who came closest to overtaking the leader after 36 holes. William shot -6 and a superb second round of -12 to lie 1 shot behind Patsy. The next contender that came close was Tullamore's adopted son Mick Byrne, formally of Old County Pitch & Putt Club, Dublin. Mick posted impressive rounds of -6 and -10 for an overall -16 for 36 holes. Athlone's M. Kenny also moved up the leader board with Lakeside's (Templemore) ever threatening and recently crowned Tipperary Matchplay winner Paul O'Brien. Both players shot steady rounds to finish on -13. As the day materialised nobody could make any inroads on the leader. The final 18 hole playoff teed off in sunny conditions at 5pm on a day that was rain free for a change. 12 players and ties made the playoff the cut being -11, however only 9 were present to tee off, this was probably down to what was unfolding in the British Open as Padraig Harrington was on his way to retaining the Claret Jug. Commentary of these events of course filtered from hole to hole in the Offaly Masters playoff! The first three ball pairing that ventured out were Erry's Joe Egan (-12) and Tracey McGrath (-12) and Tullamore's John Fleming (-11). The penultimate group consisted of Erry's Joe McGrath Jnr (-12), Custume's M Kenny (-13) and Lakeside's Paul O'Brien (-13). The last group certainly got the attention of the crowd, Ferbane's Patsy Reams (-19) took a 1 shot lead over Erry's William Buckley Jnr (-18) and a three shot lead over Tullamore's Mick Byrne (-16).

The final group failed to repeat their impressive shooting from previous rounds, their putters evidently not as hot as they were early morning. It was Patsy who just fell over the finish line carding a nervous third round score of -4 as William and Mick not without the lack of effort carded rounds of -3 and -4 respectively. There was some sharp shooting in the other two groups but it just wasn't enough to catch the winner. Paul O'Brien and Tracey McGrath shot third rounds of -7, Joe Egan shot -5 and Joe McGrath Junior shot -4. John Fleming and M Kenny shot third rounds of -2 and -1. The last group received a warm welcome to the final hole who recognised that it was to be Patsy's day in the limelight once again. An impressive 7 days by the Ferbane player that we are sure he will not forget in a hurry, the question is now formed whether Patsy can continue and bring his impressive form into the National Strokeplay Championships at Tullamore next weekend. Can he perform three successive victories?! Well worth an outside bet! The final winners of the Offaly Masters is as follows: Winner Patsy Reams -23, Runner-Up William Buckley Jnr. -21, Third Paul O'Brien -20 (on back 18 from Mick Byrne), Last 18 Tracey McGrath -7 (-19 overall). The Ladies 7-11 section was won by Erry's Geraldine Ryan +7 and 0-6 section was won by Tullamore's Margaret Hogan -3. The Junior Gents section was won by Tullamore's Michael O'Connell +5 while the tightly contended Inter section was won by Granard's Anthony Burke -8. Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to those that supported a very successful Offaly Masters. Tribute must be paid to all those who made it such a success from the Erry grounds committee to the kitchen and the Offaly Co. Board Officers that ran the competition.

Dates for the diary: The Gents National Strokeplay Championships take place next weekend July 26th and 27th in Tullamore. We wish all our Offaly hopefuls in both the Junior, Inter and Senior sections the very best of luck in their national title chase. All support is greatly encouraged in Tullamore as the best players in the country will be on show. A full report of the ladies and gents strokeplay championships will follow next week.

Picture: Patsy Reams, newly crowned Offaly Matchplay Champion and Offaly Masters Champion and Joe McGrath Jnr, Offaly Co. Board.