Posted 12.03.2024
What a week to be wearing the Killiney crest!
Sunday 10th March marked the final group match for Killiney in the 2024 Fitzgibbon Cup, and boy did our lads finish off with a bang.
Going into the day it was clear to all our players that Castle were really the ‘final boss’ of the hell group Killiney were drawn against this year. Furthermore, a simple win against these interclub match veterans was not all that was needed. The points difference of the group was hanging in the balance so Killiney gritted their teeth and went out with the aim of dismantling Castle in every match, with nothing given away.
The Home Leg:
Niall & Aengus led by example from the front as they absolutely blasted their opponents out of the water. Three birdies in their first 12 holes meant that the match was finished before the quartet even headed for the 13th tee, and the poor lads had to wait nearly two hours for their soup and sandwiches.
In the second match, Stephen & Michael came up against a solid pairing but they were up to the task. In a match where neither pairing made anything worse than a bogey, nobody was ever more than 1up all day. Two fine wedge shots from Stephen on holes 14 and 15 proved important as the lads battled to an all important half.
In the final match, Brian & Pat came up against a brick wall. Again, the quality of this match was scarcely believable. Despite coming home in level par, the Killiney lads somehow lost the match as the Castle pairing shot -2 on the back 9 for a 1up victory.
The Away Leg:
John & Keith led the charge for the away side, leaving a trail of smoke behind them as they shot around in 3 hours, and got the full 18 holes in too! A surgically precise tee shot by John on the 18th followed by Keith’s mid iron into the middle of the green saw the comfiest of pars, clinching the final hole and halving the match, a crucial half point away. If Killiney ever decide to enter a speed golf tournament, we know who our first choices are.
Gerry & Ivan continued to show their versatility as they have played 3 different matches on 3 different courses and still they remain undefeated. They came out of the blocks fast as Ivan made it clear he’d take the par 3s, teeing off alongside Castle’s scratch player all day. The mind games paid dividends as they cruised along with a comfortable lead all day, closing out a huge 3&2 win away from home. Whether you want to field these warriors in Killiney, Delgany, Castle (or even Mars?!), they’ll bring the points back to Killiney that evening without a doubt.
Jamie & Dave were given the tall order of playing the anchor role away from home, having no experience as a partnership in this competition. But that did not hinder them in the slightest. Like a couple of racehorses with their blinkers on, they showed remarkable tenacity and focus. Whenever one of them faltered (which was rare), the other had the response. This gave Castle no chance all day as our lads brought home another huge away point with a 4&2 victory!
Despite this inspiring performance from Killiney, which we will remember come the Barton Cup, we are now relying on other results in the group to unravel this Sunday. Only then will we know if we have done enough to reach the final!
L-R: John Quinn, Jamie Airey, Simon Fitzgerald (Manager), Keith Bardon, Gerry Drum, Ivan Power & David Allen
Posted 06.03.2024
L-R: Ivan Power, Captain Gary Ryan, Simon Fitzgerald, Luke O'Brien, Pat O'Brien, Gerry Drum, Declan Morrissey, Jamie Airey, Brian McCarthy, John Dawson, Paul Kirwan, Jack Campbell, Michael Boyce & Oscar Sexton.
Killiney 3.5 Dun Laoghaire 2.5
There was no shortage of entertainment to be had last Sunday morning as the crisp conditions saw Dun Laoghaire’s course closed resulting in all six matches in this fixture being played out on the hallowed turf of Killiney.
Action kicked off with Paul & Declan leading out our first match. There were halves a plenty to be had in this tight affair as they ultimately went the distance to 18 where the spoils were split in a well earned half.
Gerry & Ivan built upon their strong showing last week in Delgany to come storming out of the blocks in their match. There was some excellent short game skills on display as they Powered (pardon the pun) to a commanding 6&5 win!
Brian & Michael really displayed their matchplay prowess as they set out from the start to play the long game and wear their opponents down. After an uneventful front 9 they turned 1 down before really stepping up the heat and won the next 5 in a row to win 4&3!
Dun Laoghaire understood the threat that Keith & Jack posed, as they fielded their strongest pairing possible who never gave our lads an inch, claiming a valuable point for the away side.
There are few who would have been able to stop this red hot pairing on Sunday. Jamie & John came out of the blocks quick and really set the tone of the match on the 6th hole as John converted Jamie’s approach shot into the green with a 15ft putt for eagle! Dun Laoghaire didn’t know what hit them - 5&4.
In our final match, Pat & Oscar showed great fight in a match that ebbed and flowed between the two teams. Ultimately, Dun Laoghaire proved too strong as they got over the line on the 17th.
The close-fought victory marked the first win of our Fitzgibbon Cup campaign and puts us in a great position to progress to the final following our final group stage match against Castle this coming Sunday.
Many thanks to all who came out and urged the team over the line – a special mention as well to Brendan Seaver for his thankless efforts early on Sunday morning to ensure the fixture could be played!
Killiney 2.5 – Delgany 3.5 (Sunday 25th February 2024)
A bitterly cold morning did not faze our home pairings as they wasted no time getting stuck into the heat of the battle in Killiney.
In our lead-out match, Declan & Ger fought bravely and showed great determination in what was a nip and tuck encounter. They were very unlucky and couldn’t catch a break all day, suffering a cruel defeat on the 18th.
In our second match, Captain Gary & Evan showed us that matchplay truly is a results-based business! Like the match ahead of them, they too went up the 18th hole and held their nerve when it mattered to secure a 1up win.
In the anchor leg, the always dependable Brian & Pat put in a solid performance to come from behind and secure a 2&1 win – they were enjoying themselves so much they played out the 18th hole anyway!
Many thanks to the fantastic home support that turned out in Killiney – it was exactly what was needed with the matches being so tight and no doubt it played a part in helping our players get over the line!
In our away matches, Delgany’s lead pairing gave Cian & Tom little chance all day as they flexed their muscles on the back nine. Following a few bad breaks in this game, Killiney’s race was run on the 16th green.
Gerry & Ivan came out with true fighting spirit. They came from 3 down to 3 up, but the home players’ knowledge of the greens saw some rakers drop on the final stretch as they parred the difficult last 3 holes with a combined 35 feet of putts holed on those 3 holes alone. The match was halved in an epic rollercoaster of a spectacle that the neutral golf fan would have loved.
Our final away pairing Cillian & Eoghan had a steady start, leading the match on the front nine before the Delgany anchor pairing saw a streak of three birdies on the back nine, exhibiting their local knowledge of the many blind approaches and clinching this match on the 16th green.
Although Killiney narrowly came out on the wrong side of a tough battle, results elsewhere mean that it is still all to play for in the group stages – next up Dun Laoghaire!
KGC Fitzgibbon Away Team in Delgany Sunday 25th February
L-R: Cian O'Sullivan, Cillian Cummins, Team Manager Simon Fitzgerald, Eoghan Burns, Tom May, Ivan Power & Gerry Drum
Posted 21.02.2024
Posted 20.02.2024
Killiney V Powerscourt - Sunday 18th February 2024
Killiney put on a performance to be proud of as they went toe to toe with the Fitzgibbon Cup Champions of 2020 and 2022, Powerscourt Golf Club last Sunday. Killiney gained a half point in a 3:3 draw that featured some clutch golf down the final stretch.
The Home Leg
Oscar & Pat led the way for Killiney, and played a style of golf that had Powerscourt pulling their hair out as Pat never missed a fairway and Oscar never missed a putt.
Keith & Jack had a very positive finish as they brought their match back to life and to the 17th hole, but Powerscourt just gave them too much to do on the back 9, never giving an inch to 2 of Killiney’s toughest soldiers.
The anchor match, Niall & Aengus carried their winter league form into this match and gave a performance nothing short of merciless! I would NOT want to play against this pairing.
The Away Leg
Captain Gary & Max lead the way for our away team as we endured a criminally early start out in Powerscourt - it’s as if they knew the Casino Royale Night was on the night before!
Gary & Max came up against a very strong Powerscourt pairing who rarely put a foot wrong all day and unfortunately fell to defeat.
In our second match, Cian & Tom (in his first ever inter-club match) displayed incredible fight and determination to battle back after trailing throughout their encounter. Coming from 3 down with 6 to play, they won 5 of the last 6 holes to storm to a 2up win - it was never in doubt!
Cillian & Eoghan battled away in a match that ebbed and flowed from start to finish. They showed great teamwork and communication around the course but unfortunately were stopped at the 17th by a solid Powerscourt pairing.
Special mention as well to Captain Lelia and our Manager of Managers Gerry Drum for their invaluable support of the away team.
Next up Delgany!
Your Fitzgibbon Cup Managers
Luke O’Brien, Simon Fitzgerald & Stephen Connolly
Posted 14.02.2024
