Delight as Castle claim AIG Men’s Senior Cup

CASTLE Captain Archie McEvoy said the experience of having Rob Moran and Alex Gleeson helped but it was a massive team effort as they claimed the AIG Men’s Senior Cup at Dun Laoghaire.

Moran was recently crowned AIG Men’s Close champion while Gleeson won that same prize back in 2016, and they both earned hard-fought points in the final to help their side to a 3 to 2 win comeback over Naas.

For Rathfarnham club Castle, their sole win came back in 2012, Jack Walsh was 16 when he featured in that success and together Gleeson, Peter McKeever and Dan Holland they provided vital experience this time around.

Moran added another touch of class and it was enough to seal a famous win.

Last year’s Barton Shield winners saw Ross McKeever claim an impressive 1up win over Rob Brazill, Moran beat David Marshall 3&2 and Gleeson had a 2&1 victory over Sam Gammell.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable, after nine holes we were four one behind, things were looking bleak, we lost a couple of holes but the character of this team, the character of the players it’s just unbelievable,” said McEvoy.

“It’s just phenomenal for the club, 20 years ago we won our first green pennant.

“We’ve won eight since, this is our eighth, and it’s been a fantastic, fantastic day for Castle Golf Club.

“I am so proud of all of the team, it is a squad effort.

“We used nine players this year and we couldn’t have got here without all nine.

“The experience we have told this afternoon.

“Alex was fighting and fighting all afternoon.

“Rob was in much more control, the character he showed this morning to come back and win on 19, just unbelievable.

“It is all about the team, it has been a two-year project.

“We won the Barton Shield last year, won the Senior Cup this year, absolutely unbelievable.”

In the semi-final Moran won the match for Castle against County Sligo, again on the 19th hole.

Ross McKeever and Walsh also got across the line for Castle.

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