Glenville hosted the 1st Dublin league final of the season on Monday as CPM took on Old County. The Clondalkin men were contesting their third successive final after winning in 2013 and losing at this same venue last year. Old County were back in the Inter final for the 1st time since 1998 and chasing a 1st title since 1983. The two had met twice in the group stages CPM winning 5-4 at home whilst it was 4.5-4.5 in Kimmage in the return. It was anticipated to be a very high quality & close affair.
The doubles started well for the recent winners as brothers Sean & Barry hit top form and were to win well against Paul Griffin & Stephen Keatinge. The middle match was a very tight game with little between the two teams. Old County were desperate to get on the board and they held on to win on the 18th to level the tie. The match of the night was Match 3 in the Foursomes. CPM were cruising to victory 3 up at the turn and well in control but the young duo of Jamie Power and Eric Doyle fought back and forced tie holes. The match went to the 2nd tie hole and it was CPM who prevailed after a brilliant three from Shawn McDonnell and Gareth Walsh to put the Clondalkin men ahead.
In the Singles, Old County needed a fast start and it looked like they would get it with Paul Griffin 2up on Conor Gorey. However the youngest of the Gorey’s is seen by many as the best and he proofed his worth with a succession of birdies that the Old County man could not answer. Conor turned the game around and won it on the 17th to move his team further ahead.
Sean Gorey a former Leinster Strokeplay champion was up against Anthony Parsons. This too was in Old County’s favour until Sean moved through the gears and forged ahead. Anthony like his clubmate Paul was unable to respond and Sean won on the 16th.
The CPM men were within a point of victory but they were forced to wait as Jamie Power a former Under 16 Dublin Matchplay champion got the better of another juvenile wizard Dean Reid to win on the 18th and keep the men from Kimmage’s hope alive.
In Match 4 though, CPM completed the Job, Barry Gorey was just too strong for Brendan Fitzpatrick and eventually won it on the last.
CPM were winners again, a phenomenal achievement for a club with just twenty playing members. John O’Keeffe cut a very happy man as he collected the cup from League Secretary Mark Millar. Mark had done a superb job in his first year and his efforts were warmly acknowledged by John and his Old County counterpart Paul Griffin. John praised the old County team on their efforts and said he hoped to see them back there again in 2016. John too further endorsed the forthcoming Inter County championships for Inters / Juniors and encouraged more to take part in 2016. A big thanks to Glenville for hosting our 1st league final and a great start to a wonderful week of finals.
The next stop will be Lucan on Tuesday night when Loughlinstown tackle Erins Isle, where league secretary Mark Millar will take the night off duty as he tries to bridge a 36 year gap and bring the biggest league title back to Finglas.