On a dry spring Sunday with ideal golfing conditions, Greystones took on Killiney in the Fitzgibbon Cup. With three matches played at home and three away. In a fiercely contested encounter, Greystones emerged victorious with a narrow 3.5 to 2.5 win, showcasing grit and determination across the board.
Alan Keane & Colm O’Neill led the charge in the opening match. After a steady start, they found their rhythm and strung together victories on holes 5, 6 and 7 to go 3 up. Killiney responded with a win on 8, but a Greystones birdie on 9 restored their 3-up lead heading into the back nine. However, Killiney refused to go away, taking 10 and 11 to cut the deficit to one, before squaring the match on 14 and pulling ahead on 17. Down the last, with Killiney in trouble off the tee, O’Neill delivered under pressure, chipping to 3 feet to secure a crucial half-point for Greystones.
Barry O’Leary & Alan Byrne delivered a commanding performance in the second match. Solid golf saw them move 2 up through 6 before stretching their lead to 3 up at the turn. After halving 10, 11 and 12 they found another gear, winning the next three holes to close out an impressive 6&4 victory.
Ollie Packman & Des Hickey faced a tough challenge in the final home match. A slow start saw them 3 down through 6, but they responded brilliantly, winning 7 and 8 to cut the deficit to one. Killiney re-gained ground on 10, but Greystones responded with victories on 12, 14 and 16 to take a narrow lead. A half on 17th meant they were 1 up heading down the last. On the 18th, Packman placed Hickey in the first cut while Killiney found trouble deep in the trees. Des then stepped up and played a solid shot just into the greenside bunker, with the pressure on, Packman held his nerve, executing a brilliant bunker shot to six feet to secure a hard-fought 1-up victory.
The opening away match saw Tony Bishop & Fergal Duffy locked in a tightly contested battle. After a strong start, both pairs traded holes throughout the front nine, reaching the turn all square. The match remained level through 12, but setbacks on 13, 16, and 18 ultimately led to a 2 down defeat.
Shane Nolan & Peter Anderson delivered a key result for Greystones. Their match was a rollercoaster, with both sides exchanging leads. Crucial wins on 12 and 13 gave Greystones an edge and after bouncing back from a loss on 16, they closed out the match 2&1 on 17.
In the final match, Brian Murray & Colm Mulcahy started well, going 2 up early and holding a 1-up advantage through nine. They extended their lead on 10, but Killiney clawed their way back, winning 15, 17 and 18 to edge out a 2-up win.
A fantastic all-round team performance saw Greystones claim a well-earned victory 3.5 to 2.5. With confidence high, attention now turns to the next challenge, a showdown with Dun Laoghaire on March 23rd.
Well done to all players and management on a great win.
