Barry Keane chalked up a second Bruen Youths title at Muskerry recently, joining a elite list of two time winners.
The event has been running for almost 40 years and commemorates Jimmy Bruen’s Muskerry legacy.
Keane first won the title in 2021, and backed up that performance with an very impressive 68 to win by five shots.
The Munster Barton Shield winner was delighted to add his name to the trophy for a second time.
“Winning it again was really special. The first time felt like a breakthrough because I was so young, but this one came with more expectation, which added some pressure,” said Keane after his win.
“To have my name on the trophy alongside some big names is something I’m really proud of, and none of this would’ve happened without the great coaching I’ve received from Fred Twomey over the past few years.”
Keane was delighted with the way he played, he led from the front and stay out in front to win by an impressive margin.
“I played really solid golf overall, getting off to a quick start with a 32 (-4) on the front nine, which gave me great confidence.
“I kept the ball in play, created plenty of chances, and holed some key putts coming home. Shooting 68 on a challenging course which was in great condition felt very rewarding.”
“I’ve been playing a lot of golf this year, and now my focus is on the All-Ireland Barton Shield finals, which myself and the Muskerry team have been preparing hard for. I’m also hoping to finish the season at the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup on the 27th of September.”
Unfortunately for Keane, Muskerry didn’t advance beyond the quarter finals in the Barton Shield but he does have the Muskerry Senior Scratch Cup to look forward to before the end of the month.
Originally scheduled for June, the competition was postponed due to a scheduling clash at a busy time of the season.
It’s now scheduled for Saturday week as a 36 hole competition. Holder Ronan Twomey is likely to put in a challenge to defend his title but there will be many others, including Keane who will be hoping to win and put their name on the trophy.
Fermoy held their John Whyte Memorial Scratch Cup on Saturday and there was an impressive wire to wire win for Monkstown’s Jack Alton.
Jack shot an opening round of 70 to finish one ahead of Castleknock’s Quentin Carew with Roy O’Riordan and Colm Crowley on level par.
There were tougher conditions in the afternoon but Alton held on and finished on level par for 36 holes.
That was three better than second place Eoghan McCarthy from Fermoy. Eddie Farr was third also with 147 and Brian Attridge and Ben Murray were fourth and fifth.
Mallow held their Dan Butler Senior Scratch Cup recently. It was one again a tight competition with Dave Reddan shooting 68 in the opening round to lead by two shots.
Dean O’Riordan made a welcome return to form in the afternoon he when he shot 68 in the second round to force a play-off with Reddan.
It was Reddan, the Nenagh and Castleknock member who came out on top after the second play-off hole, forcing O’Riordan into second place. Caelan Coleman finished in third place with Conor Og Madigan and Jimmy Walsh also finishing on level par.
Monkstown avenged the quarter-final and semi-final defeats in the AIG Juinior Cup in recent years when they won the All Ireland final in Tandragee.
Stephen Murphy gave them the perfect start when he secured 7&5 win in the decider. Philip Dorney followed up with a 2&1 success in the second match, and although Galgorm’s Matthew Harkness and Brendan Mulgrew won their matches, Robert Kennedy’s late 3&1 success sealed the silverware as darkness began to fall on Tandragee.
“It feels absolutely incredible,” said Monkstown captain Anthony O’Sullivan.
“This is something we have been working at for three years, we have had three Munster East pennants in a row, now we have the green pennant, so it’s great.
“It was really very very tight and for it to go down to the 17th in the last game just shows what quality golf it was for both sides.”
