Rory Milne spearheaded the Faithlegg young guns as the Waterford club claimed their first AIG Senior Cup Munster Pennant in Killarney.
The teenager led the way in an enthralling final against a strong Douglas side. Faithlegg were giving up quite a bit in terms of age but you never would have known it.
Milne was out in the first match against Douglas’ Peter O’Keeffe and the teenager found himself three up after five thanks to three birdies. Milne’s momentum seemed to resonate back through the field; at one point in the front nine Faithlegg were up in all five matches.
Milne turned on 5 up and although he lost the 10th, he promptly eagled the 11th to beat O’Keeffe’s tap in birdie. That summed up most of the afternoon, while Douglas battled to get back on even terms, Faithlegg produced some great golf at key times to keep ahead of the Cork side.
Alex King secured the first point for Faithlegg on the 15th green and Dylan O’Connor added a second when he closed out match three on the 16th.
Milne in the top match was four up with four to play, but O’Keeffe won 15 and 16 to keep the contest going. Milne came back hard though and rattled in a birdie on 17 when a par would have secured the overall win. It was a fitting finish for the teenager, and as a result Rory Fives and Darragh O’Sullivan were called in with the final score recorded as a 4-1 win for the Waterford side.
Killarney’s Killeen course was in great condition for the final, and the benign weather made sure that the players small number of supporters enjoyed the day.
Faithlegg had a good in over Tralee in their semi-final while Douglas had an equally impressive win over holders Limerick in the other match. Faithlegg will now advance as Munster Champions to the AIG Cups and Shields national finals in Donegal Golf Club next week.
AIG SENIOR CUP 2020 Munster Semi Finals & Final At Killarney GC Sunday 27th September 2020;
FAITHLEGG -V- DOUGLAS 1ST Tee 1.15pm
Rory Milne bt Peter O’Keeffe 3/1
Alex King bt Paul Tobin 4/3
Dylan O’Connor bt Jack Murphy 3/2
Rory Fives -v- Kieran O’Donoghue called in
Darragh O’Sullivan -v-Karl Bornemann called in
SEMI FINALS
FAITHLEGG –V- TRALEE 1st Tee
Alex King bt Fergal O’Sullivan 2/1
Rory Milne lost to Daren O’Sullivan 2/1
Dylan O’Connor bt David Fitzgerald 2/1
Rory Fives bt Gerard Deegan 3/2
Joe McCleane halved with Eoghan O’Donnell called in
LIMERICK –V- DOUGLAS 12th Tee
Owen O’Brien lost to Peter O’Keeffe 5/4
Ciaran Vaughan lost to Paul Tobin 2up
Michael O’Kelly halved with Jack Murphy called in
Michael Reddan lost to Kieran O’Donoghue 3/2
Justin Kehoe halved with Karl Bornemann called in
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