Clandeboye and Co Sligo will contest the tomorrow’s Barton Shield Final after coming through the penultimate stage of the AIG sponsored, GUI All Ireland Cups and Shields at a windswept Royal Tara Golf Club this afternoon.
The Ulster champions Clandeboye came through against Cork Golf Club, the latter seeing their bid for a Barton Shield and Senior Cup double dashed on the opening day of the finals.
The match was beautifully poised after nine holes with Cork pair Mark Ford and Ian O'Flynn two up at that stage and Clandeboye's Colm Murphy and William Russell ahead by the same margin in the bottom game.
It was Murphy and former boys international Russell that effectively decided the outcome as they produced some wonderful golf, especially considering the foursomes format, to win by seven holes with the top match eventually ending in a half.
Co Sligo's Seán Flanagan and Declan Reidy proved the match winners in the second semi-final as they triumphed by three holes against Rosslare's Gary Collins and Ian Lynch. The bottom game finished with honours even.
In the Junior Cup, Connacht champions Westport proved too strong for Slieve Russell, who were making their first appearance in the finals stage.
RESULTS - Barton Shield semi-finals: Clandeboybe bt Cork 7 holes (Clandeboye names first): G Laird & L Crawford halved with M Ford & I O'Flynn; C Murphy & W Russell bt G O'Flaherty & J Hickey 7 holes. Co Sligo bt Rosslare 3 holes (Sligo names first): S Flanagan & D Reidy bt G Collins & I Lynch 3 holes; G McDermott & S O'Hara halved with M Mullen & T O'Leary.
Junior Cup semi-finals: Westport bt Slieve Russell 3½-1½ (Westport names first): S Larkin lost to B McGowen 2 holes; J Healy bt D Donohue 3/1; T Bree bt B Cunningham 4/3; R Hehir bt B Cribben 2/1; R Mahon halved with S Monteith.
FRIDAY'S MATCHES – Barton Shield Final, Clandeboye v Co Sligo (Clandeboye names first) – 11.10: G Laird & L Crawford v S Flanagan & D Reidy; 11.20: C Murphy & W Russell v G McDermott & S O'Hara.
