Elm Park are hoping to crown their centenary year in style this weekend as they chase AIG Men’s Junior Cup glory at Tandragee Golf Club, 40 years on from their last triumph.
Co-manager Rob Pryce will lead his side into action as 16 clubs battle for All-Ireland honours and the coveted green pennants across the AIG Men’s and Women’s Junior Cup finals.
The Armagh venue will host the two-day event, with with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals played across Friday and Saturday.
For Elm Park, it is another chance to mark a special season, coming just a week after their AIG Women’s Senior Foursomes side lifted the title for the first time in the club’s 100-year history.
In his first season in charge, Pryce is determined to carry that success into this weekend’s action and take inspiration from Elm Park’s last Men’s Junior Cup winning side in 1985.
“I would have known some of the team and those around it. I would have been a junior member in Elm Park,” said Pryce.
“There was a celebration a few weeks ago for the team that won, so it’s highly relevant and it would be superb to win it 40 years later.”
Elm Park secured the Leinster South pennant with hard-fought wins over Hermitage and Greystones in their final two matches and now as Pryce, and fellow manager Gavin Lyng, head north with a panel of eight players, Declan Quilligan, James McGuire, Chris Cosgrave, Paul O’Hanlon, Jerry Casey, Nat Lacey, Peter Whitty and Dave Sheehan, they will look to continue their fine form.
“The support of everyone, the pro, the club, it’s just been fantastic and really been enjoyable as we progressed,” said Pryce.
“There’s huge camaraderie and great excitement about it and we have a very good mix of players. It’s a great mix of experience and excitement and it’s a really good panel and they have come together really well over some challenging matches especially in the last two rounds.”
The finals begin tomorrow morning with the AIG Women’s Junior Cup quarter-finals, where Dundalk face Galway in the opening tie at 8.30am. The men’s competition gets underway at 11.45am with Roganstown against Galway Bay, before Elm Park begin their campaign at 1.15pm against Ulster North winners Galgorm Castle.
Pryce knows that capping off an incredible 2025 inter-club season by adding their second piece of silverware to the trophy cabinet in as many weeks would be a huge moment for all involved.
“It would be phenomenal for the club, phenomenal for the players but in particular our captain Tony O’Shea who has played Senior Cup, Interprovincials, and he’s been in the club for over 45 years himself,” said Pryce.
“I think that would mean so much to the club, to him and everyone involved. It would be really good.”
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