Douglas go in search of an historic treble at Shandon Park as the Cork club look to retain both the AIG Men’s and Women’s Senior Cups while aiming to secure their first Barton Shield All-Ireland title in 35 years and become the first club to win all three pennants in the same year.
Shandon Park will stage one of the biggest weeks in Irish golf, with four major Inter-Club trophies on offer as the AIG Men’s and Women’s Senior Cups, Women’s Senior Foursomes and Men’s Barton Shield are decided from Wednesday.
Following their historic home win last season, Don Coughlan will lead his Men’s Senior Cup team into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
Coughlan will lead on two fronts as he also captains the Barton Shield side, who will look to claim the illustrious crown for the first time since 1991, when Coughlan was part of the title-winning side.
“We won that final in Malone, not far from where we’re going to Shandon Park,” said Coughlan.
“Hopefully it’s a good omen.”
“A great friend of mine who ran that team passed away recently and he’s on our minds a lot. Donal O’Herlihy, he was a fabulous player in his own right. He was delighted last summer to see he finally wasn’t the only winning men’s manager ever.”
Last year’s Senior Cup win was the first All-Ireland title for the Douglas Men’s team since that Barton Shield victory in 1991, and for it to happen at their home club was a special moment for Coughlan.
“It was unbelievable for the club,” said Coughlan.
“To finally win our second senior title, our first senior cup after almost 120 years, it was an extraordinary moment.”
Victory in both Senior Cups came down to two of the youngest players on either side, with Claudia O’Donoghue sealing victory for Kate MacCann’s team on the 18th green before Barry O’Connell repeated the feat on the same hole to mark a historic victory on home soil.
A mixture of youth and experience was evident in Coughlan’s winning team last season, and he brings a similar blend once again as Peter O’Keefe, Wayne O’Callaghan, Justin Dennehy, Kyle McCarron, Sean Deasy, Karl Bornemann, Philip Elwood and Eoghan Power make up the eight-man squads for the Senior Cup and Barton Shield.
“You need a bit of depth and a nice mix,” said Coughlan.
“We’ve a lovely mix, a range of ages through young guys in their teens up to Karl who is in his sixties now. Very different players as well and an interesting mix of abilities, very different styles of players but they are all very good in their own right.”
“Barton Shield can be different. You’re trying to mix and match power game with other parts of the game, and they are very different guys so that’s an interesting challenge.
The four days of action begin on Wednesday with the AIG Women’s Senior Foursomes and AIG Barton Shield quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals in the afternoon session.
Douglas open their Barton Shield campaign against Royal Portrush while Athenry, Castlewarden, Royal Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Lahinch and Donaghadee complete the draw.
On Friday, the AIG Women’s and Men’s Senior Cup quarter-finals tee off, with Coughlan’s side beginning their title defence against Lisburn while County Sligo, Enniscorthy, The Island, Carton House, Castletroy and Warrenpoint complete the last eight lineup.
Despite returning as defending champions, Coughlan and his team are under no illusions about the challenge that awaits them.
“We’re not under any illusions that we are favourites to win just because we won it last year. We were winners, but we’re very much thinking we’re underdogs,” said Coughlan.
“We’ve got something to prove. We’ll have to deliver big to take us through again this year, but that’s not a bad place to be. We certainly believe that’s possible.”
Last year was the first time since 1979 that a club had completed the Senior Cup double, and Douglas now have the chance to achieve something that has never been done before by winning the Men’s Senior Cup, Women’s Senior Cup and Barton Shield in the same year.
“It would be extraordinary,” said Coughlan.
“As a club we haven’t really won that many for a long time so to get a run would be extraordinary.”
“To do it again would be a surprise but if we do pull it off it’ll be a busy two or three weeks afterwards.”
Follow the action here
Leave a comment