Electrifying win for Old Conna thanks to a Declan double
Daily Mail
26 Apr 2009
TWO bright sparks produced an electrifying win for south Dublin club Old Conna in the first round of the Irish Mail All-Ireland Fourball Trophy.
Declan Murphy, director of a fire alarm company, and Declan Ryan, who heads an electrical firm, teamed up to beat Dublin City on the 18th green after dramatically winning the last two holes.
‘At Old Conna we are known as Upper Dec and Lower Dec, however we’re not sure which is which. I suppose it depends on the golf played by each of us on the day,’ said Ryan.
On this occasion you definitely could not tell who was who. One hole down on the 17th tee, first Murphy played an inspired bunker shot to within three feet to level the match, then Ryan came in on the 18th to win the hole and the match.
The two Declans may be light-hearted about their golf, but they both have a solid sporting heritage. Murphy played inter-county Gaelic Football for his home county Offaly, while Ryan was an accomplished athlete, winning the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country title for Benildus College in 1985. Both joined Old Conna in 2001.
Elsewhere in the men’s competition, Foyle’s Brendan Barr and Martin Loughrey had a thrilling sudden death win over Portsalon, winning at the first tie hole.
While Adam Foreman and James Hume of Rockmount notched up the biggest win of the round so far with a 7&5 win over Lisburn.
The final of the Irish Mail All-Ireland Fourball Trophy is to be played at the spectacular Macreddin course, designed by Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, in September. |
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