Mileage Tyres Hampers underway with some super scoring

The first round of the Mileage Tyres sponsored gents' Christmas hampers took place ion better than expected autumn conditions; no rain and the ground conditions which could be described as good to firm in racing parlance.In the late September sunshine the place looked resplendent as the leaves turn colour. Over two hundred hopefuls entered the very popular annual two round event (the second round completes on next week end) and as expected with the fare on offer the scoring was very good. The leader with a fine forty two points is Patrick Curran (11), who seems to be the man for the big occasion, having featured earlier in the year; close behind after an eventful round which contained three birdies and numerous 'doubles', is Brian Daly(12). Ciaran Murphy (19) and Sean Nulty(12) sit quietly in their slipstream with a pair of thirty nines, with John O'Toole(16) only one further back. Not to be discounted are those on thirty seven, Eamon Shaw (12), Colm Murphy(20), Pat Cleary(14), Nicholas Murtagh(20) and Hugh O'Neill (20). The sextet on thirty six is Brendan Buckley, Paul Mc Gann, Ted Eighan, Malachy Stephens, Martin Smith and Pat Curran (snr).Apart from the numerous individual prizes, interest will be focussed as usual on the team prizes, with no more than six shots separating the top from the bottom teams. Remember if you scored twenty five points or better you are part of a team See noticed board.There is also a quality hamper on offer for next Sunday's best, so if you could not get out last week end have a go for the second leg.Seniors' golfOur senior men entertained their counterparts from Strandhill golf club on Tuesday last and hold a healthy lead after the first leg of the annual challenge for the Mileage trophy. The second leg takes place today, Wednesday in the Sligo venue.Matchplay competitionsIn the club confined matchplay events, very good progress has been made. In the fourball we have finalists; the Eamon Shaw/Joe Martin pairing is up against Bernard Mc Donnell and Ross Mc Kinley, having narrowly defeated Donald Bell/Tom Lyng and Brendan and Niall Colleary respectively. The matches, I'm told were extremely close with tie holes used in one of the games.In The Bill Collentine singles Brendan Colleary narrowly defeated Stephen Bray in a keenly contested match in front of a sizeable audience on Saturday last. The beaten semi finalists were Paul Mc Gann and Paddy Dunne.The Hayes Coghlan men's foursomes competition also reached a conclusion last week when after a titanic battle, The father and son pairing of Pat and John Dromey over came the challenge of Michael Walsh and Jim Rock. The beaten semi finalists here were Paul Quinn and Martin Smith and the youthful Kieran Lynam and Paul McGann(jnr)The Father Pat Dunne mixed foursome is almost at the final stage. The holders, Frank Mc Keon and Challenge Cup hero Carmel Monaghan have reach the ultimate stage of the competition having over come the strong challenge of 3 mixed team members Gerry Purcell and Ann Hannon and await the outcome of the other semi final, which is being contested by Des Maguire and Ann Fagan, who se opponents and Patrick and Margaret Forde.Dates for your diaryNext Sunday is the second leg of the Mileage Tyres hamper. Sunday 11th sees the Ladies Christmas Hampers. Sunday 18th the event is the rescheduled Expert men's competition.It is envisaged that the turkey competitions will commence soon after that and plans for the remodelled Morgan Golf and Sports Winter League are being drawn upLadies BranchChallenge Cup Team in All Ireland Final.In March this year a group of AA Challenge Cup players along with their team Captain and Manager embarked on a mammoth golfing journey that culminated in an all Ireland Final at Royal Tara Golf Club on Saturday last.  Having reached and come through the district finals at Mountrath, the team were charged with representing Mullingar and the Midlands at the magnificent Royal Tara venue. Over an epic three days of match-play in Royal Tara the team finally succumbed to their Munster counterparts from Castletroy loosing by the narrowest of margins 3 - 2.Rosemary Whelan, Bernadette Solon, Anne McHugh, Alison O'Neill, Carmel Monaghan, Anne Tyrrell, Hilary Shekleton, Attracta Lenox and Bernie Mulroy led by Paula Dunne and Mary Hamill were the group that made us all fill with pride and humility as they played their hearts out for Mullingar.On Thursday they met Portumna, the Western District Champions, over whom they recorded a comfortable 3 ½ - 1 ½ victory.  Day two saw them pitted against the Leinster Champions, Dublin City.  Again they scored a convincing win by a margin of 4 - 1 to see them through to the final and a date with the Munster Champions, Castletroy. Many had travelled to support the team on each of the three days but the supporters were truly out in force on Saturday to will the team on and to savour a wonderful spectacle of golf.And what a spectacle the team provided as they poured every ounce of energy and concentration into every shot played.It might be difficult in the short term to absorb the taste of a loss when the team had not had a flavour of defeat from the outset of the championship in March. However, when the dust settles, each and every person involved can only hold their heads high for the commitment they gave and for the manner in which they represented their club and district.  An All Ireland Final is truly a magnificent achievement. Congratulations to all the players, their loyal caddies, Captain and Manager. Roll on next year as we look forward to building on this success.  Days BazaarBernadette Gerety continued a recent trend to shoot the lights out on the course last  week with a score more reminiscent of a fourball return. Bernadette shot a magnificent round of 44 points, just as Eleanor McArdle had done the week before, to run away with the spoils.  Six shots back was Miriam McManus on a highly respectable total of 38 points. Anne Marie Fagan is taking up residence in the gross department lately with her second win on the trot and a nice score of 26 points.  Despite what she might tell you herself, Mary Witter had a great finish to her round of 37 points as she ousted a number of contenders including Helen Moorhead, Ann Cleary and Ann Bennett.  Ann Cleary won the Senior 9 hole.Results: 1st, Bernadette Gerety (24) 44 points; 2nd, Miriam McManus (19) 38 points. Gross: Anne Marie Fagan (12) 26 points; 3rd Mary Witter (21) 37 points.