1st June 2011: Leinster Title For Tullamore's Joseph Pyke

Leinster Matchplay Championships
The Offaly Co. Board would like to congratulate Tullamore's Joseph Pyke on winning the Leinster Intermediate Matchplay Championship at St. Bridget's & Ryston Kildare over the weekend. Joseph dominated the final against C.P.M.'s Ian Smith convincingly winning 7&6 following a tough Semi-Final against Collinstown's Martin Carter which went to the second extra tie-hole. The young gun can now look forward to playing in the Senior Grade in which he will certainly further make a name for himself in the game. The best of those who contended in the Senior Grade in the Leinster Matchplay Finals were Erry's Larry Maher Jnr. and Graham Newman who made it through to the Quarter-Finals. In the Junior Grade another one of Tullamore's young guns Dylan Melia was unfortunate not to make it to Quarter-Finals when he was beaten after the second extra tie hole by Bellewstown's Shane Townley. In the Ladies Section, Helen Wynne of Erry was beaten in her first round match against Kildare's Mairead O'Toole while in the Intermediate Grade Tullamore's Annie Galvin was very unlucky to be beaten by 1 hole by another Kildare lady Mary Sherry. However, better fortune struck Ferbane's Eileen McCabe who flew the Offaly flag high as she played her way into the Junior Semi-Final following a strong 6&5 win over Nancy Stanbridge of Dublin in the Quarters but just came up short to secure a Final spot as she was beaten by 1 hole by Dublin's Theresa King.

The attention now turns to the National equivalent as Collinstown Pitch & Putt Club, Westmeath, play host to the National Matchplay Championships over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Offaly will have a strong contingent travelling to the nearby Lake County to make their bid on the proceedings commencing on Saturday morning. First out Saturday at 9a.m. is the first group of Gents First Round matches in which Erry's Graham Newman will take on local Michael Buckley, Erry's Billy Buckley Snr. plays Dublin's Chris Gallagher, Erry's William Buckley Jnr. plays John Fitzgerald, and Tullamore's Michael Hogan plays local Alan Hanlon. Then at 12.30p.m. the Ladies First Round matches tee-off with Tullamore's Margaret Hogan receiving a Bye in her match while last out in the Ladies Section Erry's Tracey McGrath takes on Meath's Phyllis Reilly. Following the Ladies the second group of Gents First Round matches will go ahead at 3p.m. in which Erry's Eamonn Kidney will play Westmeath hotshot Jonathan Daly. The Second Round matches will tee-off on Sunday morning, please see all times and link to draw below. We wish all competitors the very best of luck over the weekend at Collinstown, at which the best players of the game will be on show!

National Matchplay Championships @ Collinstown Pitch & Putt Club - Times of Play:
Saturday June 4th
10a.m. - Gents First Round Matches
12.30p.m. - Ladies First Round Matches
3p.m. - Gents First Round Matches
Sunday June 5th
9.30a.m. - Gents Second Round Matches
12 noon - Ladies Second Round Matches
2p.m. - Gents Third Round Matches
4.30p.m. - Ladies Quarter-Finals
4.50p.m. - Gents Quarter-Finals
Monday June 6th
9a.m. - Gents Semi-Finals
9.30a.m. - Ladies Semi-Finals
1p.m. - Gents Final
1.45p.m. - Ladies Final

View Ladies & Gents National Matchplay Draws here »
View Times for First Round Matches here »

Dates for your diary: The Erry Open Fourball takes place over the June Bank Holiday from Friday June 3rd to Sunday June 5th and will be followed by the annual Erry Scratch Cup on Monday June 6th. All are very welcome, further information and prize details can be found on our homepage.

The winner of this week's lotto bonus ball was number 24, Erry's Gerry Walsh and the week before it went to number 29 Tullamore's Anthony Galvin.