On Sunday the 20th March 2022, the First “Sindy Moran Wooden Spoon” match took place between Sutton GC and Howth GC. Sindy was an extremely popular Member of Sutton GC but was also well known through the golfing circle with friends in many different golf clubs. Sindy was a Massive character of Sutton Golf club and always loved a party. All the lads did him proud on the partying front anyway on Sunday evening - that I can 100% confirm!

The Sutton team was filled with experience and youth, the team was lead into Battle by Club stalwarts Patrick Lennon and James Moran alongside Bruno Lupo Jnr and Sam Kelly. There were some very notable performances from a very strong team. Howth GC came to Sutton expecting nothing less then a victory. Their team was stacked with some very talented players such as Brendan Smyth (+2) who was player captain and lead his troops into battle alongside the most recent Lord Mayors winner Conor Collier (2).

First match up was Bruno Lupo & Sam Kelly Vs Brendan Smyth & Conor Collier. Sutton raced two a 2 hole advantage through 3 holes, The experienced Howth team did not panic and replied with a birdie on 4, followed by an excellent par on the tough par 3, 5th hole to claw the match back to all square. The match was drawing near the turn all square, when the match reached the par 4, 376 yard 9th hole. Bruno stood up on the tee and proceed to hit a high draw out over the waves of burrow beach and on to the green 15ft away from the pin leaving his partner a 15ft eagle putt. The Howth pairing were unphased by this and proceeded to birdie the 10th hole after Conor produced a touch of class with a beautiful 40 yard pitch to about 3 feet. The match then went up and down the next two holes with Howth taking the lead through 11 holes and Sutton bouncing back with a birdie on the par 5, 3 rd . Howth then asserted there dominance over the next two holes and with 4 holes to go they were in clear control. Sam & Bruno did their best to try claw back the match rolling in a birdie on the 6th from 15ft, only for the Howth Pairing to follow them in from 10ft for a half.

With two holes to go the match was standing at 2up for Howth, with 2 to go. Bruno and Sam had not given up but new they faced an uphill battle against an extremely strong pairing. The Both teams hit great drives down the 17th Hole, the Howth pairing hit their approach just through the green and left a difficult 2 putt. The Sutton pairing still believed and managed to get their approach inside 20ft which given the flag position and the speed of greens was very respectful. Conor proceeded to hit his putt to about 5ft past the hole, leaving Brendan a tricky putt for the possibility of the win if Bruno could not convert the 20ft birdie opportunity. Bruno duly obliged to drain the 20ft putt for birdie to take the match down the 18th Hole, hewre Class prevailed and Brendan and Conor were able to make a par to win the match with Sam and Bruno unable to make another birdie.

Match Two was a titanic battle between Patrick Lennon and James Moran vs Darren Fourie and Karl Herssens. This was a battle of Long hitters and some skillful wedge players. Patrick who wouldn’t necessarily be known for his Length off the tee makes up for it with a very skilled wedge game, some say he is the best wedge player in Cush Point. James, Darren and Karl , all long hitters were doing battle off the tee. This was a game that flip flopped with the Sutton pairing turning 2 up and the Howth Pairing grinding out on the back 9 to get back to all square through 17. Coming down 18 with the match tied both teams where 20ft away from pin on 18th, putting for birdie. Sutton were first to putt and with Patrick hitting a positive putt to about 3ft passed the hole. The Howth pair were aware of how quick the putt was and proceeded to leave it 3ft short. A great sporting gesture then took place when both pairs decided to call it half on the 18th green going ‘good-good’ for the half point after grinding it out against each other for the previous 17 th Holes. This truly shows that the matches were played in a great sporting manner, rivals but also friends, desperate for the win but not desperate enough to ruin a friendship or a great sporting day.

Match 3 was one of great anticipation Ben Logan and Stephen Moriarty, two stalwarts of the men’s Sutton golf club teams Vs a Howth pairing of Ciaran Kelly a former American College Golf player, who played in a number of Elite College events in the states and Matthew Duignan, a Bryson Dechambeau style player. This was always going to be an intriguing battle, unfortunately for the Howth pairing it was not their day with the ever-aggressive style of Matthew struggling off the tee on a narrow course like Sutton. While the Howth pairing struggled off the tee, the Sutton pairing didn’t really given them a chance to settle into the match making a number of solid pars in a row making it virtually impossible for the Howth pairing to get back into the match. The Howth pairing showed a ‘never say die’ attitude but unfortunately for them it was not meant to be.

Match 4 was the New generation of Sutton Golf club with Shane Mc Glynn, who comes with a rich amount of golf experience having won many all-Ireland Barton Shields and Senior Cups for Portmarnock and Carton House. Shane was paired with Oisin Bennis who was making his debut for Sutton golf club. They were against the experienced Sam Dunlop who had recently won the All- Ireland Junior Cup with his home club of Kilkenny GC and Stephen Kelly a Local Stalwart of Howth GC having played there all through his youth and up into his early 30s. This was a match that went both ways with both pairs up at one stage or another throughout the match. Oisin showing some serious poise under the pressure of his first interclub match. Coming down the 17th, Sutton were 1up and safely on the green 25ft from the cup and looking in a very good position. The joys of matchplay then happened - the Howth pair had hit their approach 15 yards through the green faced a difficult up and down. Up stepped Sam who proceed to hit a beautiful chip that proceeded to find the bottom of the cup for a 3 and the pressure swung onto the Sutton pair. Unfortunately Sutton were unable to respond and the match was going down the 18th, all square. The Howth pairing proceeded to feed off the momentum and striped two great drives down the middle leaving them a short wedge in. Sutton proceed to follow them down the middle. The Howth pair proceeded to nick the match with a super 4 in the circumstances. A Special mention to Oisin who played excellent golf and has many years left representing Sutton GC.

Match 5 was another new generation pairing for Sutton GC of Kenneth Moore and Anthony Rimson. Kenneth making his first appearance for Sutton GC . The Howth pair of Sean Kinane and Mikey Scott, two lads who have been raised in the hills of Howth. Kenneth battling the first match with nerves and Anthony battling a serious knee injury sustained the previous day, showed great bottle to be able to dispatch the two lads from the hills in Emphatic fashion. A special mention to Sean Kinane who I believe won MVP for the Howth team.

Match 6 was the battle of three good mates and John Daly Jnr, AKA Sam Brennan. Niall McNamara a former Howth Member who swapped the sheep herding of Howth GC for the sandy dunes of Sutton GC. The Howth representatives are two of the well known socialites of Howth - Stephen Gilmore and Jack Herbert. This match began with a sucker blow to the Sutton team when Jack rolled in a 40ft bridie putt. Sutton responded with Niall hitting a fine 9 iron from 110 yards to take the match back to all square with a birdie. The Howth team piled the pressure early on the Sutton pairing and were 2up through 8 holes. Niall proceed to hit what he described as a “BOMB” 220 yards down the middle of the 9th fairway with his driver that looked beach-bound, but to the groups astonishment they found it sitting down the middle of the fairway. Probably took a members bounce off the slope. Sutton proceeding to take the hole. Young John Daly Jnr *Sam Brennan* then stepped up and holed a monster putt from roughly 40ft for the half on the 10 th hole. The Sutton pair proceeded to get the match back to all square on the next with a beautiful up and down. Over the next two holes the match swung in both directions. The match was nearing the end with 4 holes to go it was all-square. Niall could see his good mates and fellow socialites from his youth tiring. Sutton won the 15th with a vital par, to go 1up with three to go. The Sutton pairing were piling the pressure on the Howth pairing finding the middle of the 16th Fairway, JD Jnr stepped up under the pressure and proceed to nearly hole out from 125 yards the ball finishing 4 inches from the hole. Sutton moved 2 up with 2 to go, the Sutton pairing closed out the match in style with a par 4 on the tough 17th hole!

A special mention to the Greens keeping staff for having the course in such good shape with the greens rolling at championship level speed. Also a thanks to everyone who played from Howth and Sutton and playing the game in such a sporting manner. It was a very enjoyable day and a very enjoyable evening in Howth GC with our fellow Rivals/Friends!