There are no easy matches at the Annesley Williams 9-Hole Matchplay at Sutton Golf Club and so it proved for Colm Moriarty who survived the so-called ‘group of death’ only to be handed a quarter-final tie with Conor O’Rourke.
Moriarty came through with flying colours against PGA in Ireland captain Simon Thornton and Niall Kearney before he salvaged a crucial half point against Jimmy Bolger in his third game to advance from Group 7.
“This format throws up a couple of interesting groups, there are no easy matches out here. I was delighted to beat Simon and get over the line against Niall and pip Jimmy as well they were all tight matches.
“There are no easy games I look forward to playing Conor.”
O’Rourke however, looked imperious as he won all three of his Group 8 matches to set up a mouthwatering tie in the anchor match on Sunday. The K Club man hasn’t played matchplay since a South of Ireland loss to James Sugrue in his amateur days and he feels the key to his success has been quick starts.
“There are lots of opportunities where lots of things can go your way and go against you. It’s nine years since I lost to James Sugrue in the South final!
“Quick starts were key. I was three or four under through four or five holes in each match so that puts your opponents under pressure because there are only a few holes left after that so you can be a bit cuter from there in. Just play more of the same and get a few putts which is always nice in matchplay.”
Also through is two-time champion Tim Rice who will be looking to get past Lucan’s Liam Power in the opening knockout tie to keep his hat trick bid alive while it’s the clash of the big mick’s as Michael McGeady and Michael McDermott do battle in the second quarter final.
In the opening group, Limerick’s Rice was beaten by Niall Kearney but did well to recover to beat Brian Cosgrove and James Quinlivan while results went his way to assure him of progression.
“I got away with blue murder, because I got a bit of a hiding from Niall Kearney. Then I luckily beat Brian and he went and beat Niall so there you go. It was a perfect day out there, heaven here as usual, looking forward to one more day tomorrow.”
“Every hole is very easy to win or lose. You can birdie the first three holes and go three up so if you par them you could be three down. You just need to hang in there because every hole has a drama to it, the par-3s are amazing so it’s good fun.”
McGeady, a beaten finalist in the past, would love to get his hands on this elusive title after coming through a playoff against Ian Halpin to progress from his group.
“I didn’t make it easy on myself, I was a bit distracted this morning. I was in a waiting list for Oasis tickets! I was thinking about that and then pulled my socks up halfway through against Brian McElhinney and Ian played lovely golf in the second match I wasn’t at the races and I felt I was playing the whole of Sutton against Paddy Devine, it was lovely to have a big crowd.
“I was saying to myself, I missed my daughter’s 16th birthday to be here so you may aswell make the best of it!”
The third quarter-final match sees the two in form players go head to head. Last week’s winner Richard O’Donovan takes on seven-time winner Richard Kilpatrick who would dearly love to add the Sutton title to his collection.
“I’ve played this game long enough now that it might owe me a couple more wins! I would love to win tomorrow, I got to the semi-finals once and that’s as far as I’ve got. It’s nine holes, never know who you are playing, just take your chances.”
QUARTER FINAL DRAW
| Time | Hole | Players |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | 1 |
Tim Rice, Liam Power
|
| 09:09 | 1 |
Michael McGeady, Michael McDermott
|
| 09:18 | 1 |
Richard O’Donovan, Richard Kilpatrick
|
| 09:27 | 1 |
Colm Moriarty, Conor O’Rourke
|
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