Castle Barna Shield success

This week, for a change, we heartily congratulate a team on successfully contesting a final. Our Castle Barna squad brought home the Shield from the Daingean club on Sunday evening last after a hard fought win over the holders, Moate Golf Club.In beautiful sunshine, in the very well presented course, both teams served up some fine golf in a very sporting contest and the issue was in doubt, with plenty of drama, right up to the end.As the situation stood with two matches to one in our favour, one of the remaining matches finished on the eighteenth and one on a tie hole; whereas the results of those went our way, we could have been rueing our loss if things had gone in the opposite direction.The team in action on the day was: John Cunningham, Dave Farrelly, Louis Vambeck, Justin Wallace and Conor Maguire. Remaining panellists were Liam Conlon, Philip Butterly, Tom Lyng and Eugene Dunne. Heartiest congratulations to team captain, Joe Fallon and his able assistant, Dave Hogan.AIB Mixed foursomesOn Sunday week last in weather conditions that could only be described as perfect there was a fine turn out of members and visitors for the popular annual AIB Bank open mixed foursomes competition and whereas the weather was fine the underfoot conditions could be described as heavy due to the "summer rains".The scoring reflected the playing conditions with the top scores being just fractionally below the seventy mark for the scotch foursomes (greensomes) format. The first prize winners were David Kearns (6) and Linda Downes (17), Kilcock 69.6 nett; runners up, beaten on the tie break rule were Ted (4) and Margaret Eighan (20). Third prize was won by another local husband and wife pairing, Donald (8) and Geraldine (15) Bell with 70.2, while the fourth nett went to Joe Grehan (12) and Ann Grehan (15) also of Mullingar with 70.8 nett.Mileage Tyres men"s hampers again attracts a fine entryIn conditions that were far from expected in the last couple of months, there was a fine turnout of gents for the first leg of this year"s Christmas hampers, again generously sponsored by Mileage Tyres. Played off the "blues" with little or no run on the ball, only a handful of competitors broke the thirty six points barrier and theu were Joe Kelly (8), Eoin Brady (17), Alan Warde (8) and Peter Purcell (12).On the thirty six mark were Finian Whelehan ((12), Mark Keane (14) and Peter Dunne (20). On the 35 point mark we have Patrick Curran (14), Richard O"Donoghue (16), Joe Ryan (20), John Lyons (22), Dan Grehan (7), John Lynch (7), Greg Cleary (6) and Stephen Bray (7).Add to that another dozen on thirty three or better, it promises to be an intriguing competition before the spoils are divided on Sunday evening next. To hold the interest of most of the field, all those on twenty five points or better have qualified for the team event and with only a couple of points between first and last placed teams it is all still to play for.Clubs winnerCongratulations to Hugh O"Neill, who won the set of golf clubs in conjunction with the John Burns" prize, the draw for which was made on Sunday night.