Ballybofey & Stranorlar took the PC Carr Memorial Cup back home by defeating the defending champions Portsalon by the narrowest margins of just three holes in the damp blustery conditions of the second Leg at B&S. Portsalon led 4-1 from the first leg and they made B&S dig deep to bring the final to a very nail biting climax.
The first Match between Michael Curran & Shane McBride against Jack Friel & Kevin Hensey was a ding dong battle of birdies with B&S closing it out on the 16th, the second match of John McMenamin & Andy McGlynn against Stephen Connolly & Eamonn McConigley was also from the top drawer of golf with B&S again managing to close it out on 16.
The big hitting Joey O’Hora & Councillor Frank McBrearty went into overdrive on the back nine to win on the 15th.
Portsalon steadied the ship with Shane McGlade & the long hitting Ronan McClafferty overcoming Fergus McMenamin & Kieran McShea on the 15th, it came down to James Rodgers & Andy Parkinson to hold themselves together against Alistair Roger & Shane Sandilands with Andy holding strong on the back nine as James was struggling after getting off to a good start, James having a shot on 16 – he managed to ‘nail’ a 7 iron to 10 feet – a fine shot which proved to be enough to secure the title for B&S! Club Captain Iggy Larkin made the presentation, Cathal Canning and his team were very magnanimous in defeat complimenting the Hospitality they received at B&S. Tony Carr, Team Captain B&S thanked his great team and said it had been an emotional journey taking his Dad, Paddy’s, memorial cup back to B&S for the first Time beating Strabane, Rosapenna, Buncrana and the defending Champs Portsalon along the way.
Golf is a great game and Donegal is a great place to play it. He thanked Eugene McGarvey, Convenor for managing the event so well and the excellent photographer Martin Fleming for his continued excellent work.
Meanwhile Otway take a narrow 3-2 lead over B&S in the Minor League from the 1st leg into the second Leg next week at B&S which will bring the curtain down on the 2026 season.
