Athlone Golf Club celebrate All Ireland triumph
Athlone celebrate winning the AIG Men’s Junior Cup. Picture: INPHO/Tom Maher
Athlone Golf Club are toasting a seminal moment in the club’s history as they claimed the AIG Men’s Junior Cup.
They bridged a 67-year gap to claim their second ever green pennant as they defeated Tramore in the showpiece event.
The club, which was established back in 1892 doubled their tally on a memorable evening for Connacht, as a youthful looking Athenry team won the AIG Women’s Junior Cup.
Remarkably teenagers Taylor Kelly (13) and Cian Mannion (15) were to the fore. The team was captained by Marc Butler with Declan Hynes, Rod Tierney and Club president Tommy Reilly contributing to this success.
“I’m over the moon, I can’t believe it’s happened,” Athlone Captain Marc Butler told Golf Ireland.
“A really good team, it’s come from five years of work at junior level, a couple of young lads on the team this year and hopefully it’s the start of something not just a once off.
“It’s been 67 years since we’ve won a green pennant, this is outrageous. Our club has been asleep.” Athlone defeated Royal Curragh in the quarter-finals on Thursday and that set up a semi-final tie against Clontarf on Friday morning.
Butler held on for a narrow 2&1 win against Patrick Dunne, with Adrian Kelly and Jed Moylette also securing precious points for the eventual winners. Tramore faced Arklow in the final four, with Michael Reidy, Patrick Doyle and David Spillane leading the way.
In the final Butler won 5&3 in the first match against Reidy, and that laid platform. Shane Kelly was also victorious (2&1) before Moylette secured the crown with a 3&2 success.
