Best Cup 2021

Our Best Cup journey started off in July 21. We were drawn away to St. Anne’s G.C. in round 1 ,but unfortunately they were unable to field a team and conceded the walk over and we progressed to round 2.

Again we were drawn away in round 2, this time to Balbriggan G.C. managed by Pat Keogh. The weather turned bad on the day and we prevailed with a 4-1 win  helped by an impressive performance from the pairing of Jimmy Lodge and Brian Healy who had a 9&7 win at home.

So into Round 3 and again luck wasn’t on our side and we were drawn away again to this time Howth G.C. The team was managed on the day by vice-captain Mick Doohan and we came away from the Howth venue with another 4-1 result.

We didn’t hold our breaths in the next round and we were again drawn away this time to Stackstown G.C. were we were the only remaining northside club left in the competition. Both captains were eager to get the tie completed as early in the month as possible as some of our players were competing in the McDonnell Cup. The tie was one each at the Corballis  course but as the teams were heading to the play off holes, we got the news of the point needed in Stackstown to secure the win and the route to the Final.

We were drawn against Kilmashogue G.C. managed by Jim Nix  in the final, so it was another trip across the city to the Southside venue for the first leg, were we went down 3.5-1.5 on a very tricky course on the grounds of St. Columbus College. We knew what we had had to do in the second leg and that was to get 4 wins from 5 matches. This was a big ask, but our lads were very confident of getting the result at home.  We three players not available, we makes some changes for the second leg and it went down to the wire. Match 1 pairing of Ed mulligan and Malacy Quinn got us on the score board early with a 5&4 win. Our second pairing of Jimmy Lodge and Brian Healy were not so lucky and succumbed to a 3&2 loss. We knew we had to win all the remain 3 games to bring the cup home to Corballis. Match 3 pairing of Martin Dunne and Edwin De Roever also had an impressive 3&2 win and then that was followed home by match 4 pairing of Dave Dorran and Kevin Thomas with a 4&3 win. It was all down to the last match pairing of Paul Kiberd and Jody McGahan who was at this stage playing in very strange wind and driving rain. It was all square on the 18^th Tee box and our lads held the nerves to secure the point for the win to seal the cup. 

It was a brilliant performance for the lads and as the team I would to commend the performance of the playing panel and send my congratulations to the players.

Bryan Higgins, Best Cup Team Manager