Our Pierce Purcell team fared a little better when seeing off a really solid outfit in Ballymoney GC. Following on from a very successful campaign in this competition last year, Ballymoney were always going to be a tough nut to crack, and that’s how it panned out. Speaking to the assembled media afterwards Kieran ‘the Messiah’ Byrne was effusive in his praise for his charges. “Not since Caesar”s Gallic campaign” was how he described his team’s odyssey. “It’s uncanny how we always have the away draw in this years Pierce Purcell”, he lamented, “but look, you have to play the hand your dealt and that’s what we did, and hats off to the four pairings. This was a really good Ballymoney side that reached the quarter finals last year, and we knew it was a mighty ask to come down here and expect to leave with a W beside your name, but we did and we’re in the hat for the next round and we will be a test for anyone and I’m certain whoever we meet will not be looking forward to playing us. An emotional Byrne said “relief is probably the best way to describe my emotions, closely followed with a burning pride. These guys go from strength to strength as we soldier on in quest of a pennant that has so far eluded me” he opined “ hopefully we can get that monkey off our backs this year”. In a team that saw numerous changes from the previous round, the importance of a panel, not just a team, became apparent. At home the duo of Liam Downey and John Holohan dispatched of their opponents with a 3 and 2 victory. The two lads have proved to be an inspired match-up this year and are proving formidable for all adversaries. In a new pairing, Colm Meagher, who must have paid off Warren and Kieran to get a home match, had a new partner. Usually playing with Keith O Neill, who unfortunately had a prior commitment that rightly took precedent, Colm now saw himself paired with one of the elder statesmen of the club, Paddy McGuinness. Drafted in at the last minute Paddy answered the call admirably to appear in what must have been his seven hundredth and ninety seven club match. Racing into a 6 hole lead, the lads must not have fancied being front runners as they allowed the Ballymoney pair to catch up with them. The ‘Comer lads had a second wind though and they came away with an impressive 2 and 1 win to secure both points available at home. Away was proving to be a horse of a different colour however. The usually rock solid team of Peter Mulhall and Andy Cleere, who have swept all before them their game’s heretofore in the Pierce Purcell, met their matches against a hugely impressive Ballymoney pair, eventually losing 4 and 3. The other pairing of young gun Josh Kelly and Nicky Walsh were embroiled in a titanic struggle against a canny pair of seasoned campaigners. 3 up dormie, the match went the distance, finally being settled with an exceptional iron shot from Josh on the par 3 18th, finally seeing off the Wicklow pair. The lads are now through to the regional quarter finals which will take place in the next couple of weeks. Good luck and congratulations to all involved.
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