SJM Catering (Seabreeze Restaurant) Winter League The waiting is finally over. The final of the SJM Catering Winter League at Strandhill Golf Club has now taken shape following a spectacular finish to the playoff stage of the competition last Sunday.

Considering the playoffs brought in the fourth- and fifth-placed teams in each section, the standard of golf was incredible, with a few notable casualties falling by the wayside when play ended. Norman Ashe and Con Hegarty produced an incredible round of 11 up to lead the playoffs, booking their place in the final after scraping into the playoffs in the first place on the final Sunday from Group F.

Another team who needed a win on the final day to make the playoffs was Pat Togher and Jimmy Glynn, and they responded very well to the challenge with a 9 up total leaving them in second on the day. Tony Mannion and Ken Carr may have been the Winter League champions, but needed two wins on the final two Sundays of qualification to keep their hopes alive of making the final. When they did reach the playoffs, however, they took full advantage with a tremendous round of 8 up.

The last qualifying place was secured by Colm Brennan and Mick Beatty on 5 up, with the pair advancing by virtue of a better back nine than their nearest challengers, Kieran Egan/Joe Finan and Donald Walsh/Damien Henry.

Of course, John McGowan was without his partner – club captain Eddie Rushe – due to Eddie’s current illness. All the members of the club wish Eddie a very speedy recovery and we hope to see him back in charge of proceedings very soon. In his absence, however, vicecaptain Joe McCann did a fine job last Sunday. A full list of results from the playoffs last Sunday is contained below:

1 Norman Ashe/Con Hegarty 11up

2 Pat Togher/Jim Glynn 9up

3 Tony Mannion/Ken Carr 8up

4 Rory O’Connor/Sean Fenton 7up

Michael Kilcullen/Chris Kilcullen 7up

Martin Cadden/Mick Gilmartin 7up

Andy Leggett/Kieran O’Keefe 7up

8 Shane Martyn/Wolfgang Leitz 6up

Paddy Martin/John Verdon 6up

10 Colm Brennan/Mick Beatty 5up

Kieran Egan/Joe Finan 5up

Donald Walsh/Damien Henry 5up

13 Pat Hickey/Enda Halloran 3up

14 Pat McCaffrey/Noel Dykes 2up

John Stewart/Paddy Cullen 2up

16 David Kelly/Colm Egan Level

Philip Osbourne/Ronnie Doyle Level

18 Charlie Munroe/Shane Roughan(missing)4dn

NR John McGowan/Eddie Rushe

Jim Keneghan/Fintan Monaghan

WINTER LEAGUE FINAL Only now, however, does the real fun begin with the 40-team grand final of the SJM Catering Winter League. Below is a rundown of the draw, with a detailed overview of how each team made it to the final. 9.00am PADDY MARTIN/JOHN VERDON: A last-gasp win over Eamonn Cunningham/Patsy Gallagher put them into the playoffs. Paddy Martin’s four-footer on the last hole then put them through to the final.

DEREK GRAY/TOMMY O’CONNOR: Bottom of their section at Christmas, they had a great spell over the final five weeks of qualifying to make the top-three in a tough section. 9.10am DESSIE TIMBS/NOEL TIVNAN: Topped their section and once again will be a significant threat in the final after only one defeat in qualifying. RONNIE CONLON/FRANK CONLON: The only team with a 100-per cent record in qualifying, it goes without saying they will be one of the hot favourites.

9.20am MARTIN CADDEN/MICHAEL GILMARTIN: An excellent performance in the playoffs, where they shot seven up, saw them advance after finishing fifth in the tightest section in the Winter League.

PHILIP MORIARTY/COLM KILBRIDE: Only beaten once in qualifying, they produce a brilliant 6up performance on the final day to advance in third place in their section.

9.30am MD COX/AIDAN HEFFERNAN: Perennial qualifiers and should be once again top contenders in the Winter League final after topping their section with something to spare.

DON CONLON/NOEL MULLANEY: Undefeated in qualifying, the wealth of experience this partnership has in the bank could be difficult to contend with. They could do very well.

9.40am FRANK KEANEY/DENIS O’SULLIVAN: Topped their section in style with seven wins. A new partnership, but plenty of experience – and Denis O’Sullivan has been in the top-10 with his son Darragh in each of the last two finals.

COLM BRENNAN/MICK BEATTY: Will be very dangerous considering they will feel free to go for everything after making it into the final in dramatic fashion last Sunday.

9.50am FERGAL DERRIG/PAT LEE: A strong side who once again qualified handily. They were in contention after the first round of the final last year, and could find themselves there again.

CHRIS KILCULLEN/MICHAEL KILCULLEN: A very strong partnership who have been practicing very hard over the past few weeks. A good performance last Sunday in the first playoff round sees them in good stead.

10am JOE MCCANN/TONY HENRY: One of the most experienced and enduring partnerships in the Winter League, they qualified in third position in their section.

SHANE FILAN/MICK WALSH: After an undefeated run through the qualifiers, they can be considered one of the top-five contenders for the title. 10.10am TONY MANNION/KEN CARR: The resilience the defending champions have displayed over the past three weeks indicates that they will be right up there in their bid to retain the title.

ADRIAN WYNNE/JOHN WHITE: Third place in qualifying, and once again a formidable force, they have the potential to score very heavily. With the West of Ireland coming up, Wynne will be one to watch.

10.20am RORY O’CONNOR/SEAN FENTON: Last Sunday in the playoffs, Rory O’Connor blitzed his way round the course with five birdies and an eagle. With some dovetailing, this side could be a dark horse.

AIDAN KERINS/GERRY LEONARD: Qualified in second place in their section. Third in last year’s final. An obvious pedigree. 10.30am PAT TOGHER/JIM GLYNN: Their form over the past couple of weeks will give them confidence in the final.

COLIN WALSH/MARK WEHRLY: Fourth place last year and topped their section this time out. Need a lot of birdies, though.

10.40am PETER MCHUGH/FERGAL KELLY: Impressed in qualifying, making it through in second place in their section.

LARRY CULKIN/SEAN CONLON: Likewise, they progressed through in second place in their section with some fine form.

10.50am NOEL GERRITY/BRENDAN GERRITY: Consistent qualifiers for the final, they have the potential to score very heavily. ANDY LEGGETT/KIERAN O’KEEFE: The extra round of the playoffs may have done them the world of good – they can have confidence after a good performance there.

11am NIALL MAXWELL/JASON KELLY: Made it through in second place in their section with a good burst at the end.

MARTIN NICHOLSEN/BRIAN O’ROURKE: Topped the poll in their section, and should be right in the mix this year once again.

11.10am JONNY MARTYN/LEO MCNALLY: Secured third place in their section. A consistent side who should give value for money.

JOHN SCANLON/DONAL KELLY: Second place in Section A, and were just pipped at the post for the top honours there by the formidable Conlons.

11.20am BRIAN HARTE/TOM CONLON: Third place in a tight section, they have the experience on their side.

MICHAEL GARRETT/MARTIN GILLEN: Showed great form in the second half of the qualifying to advance in third place from their section.

11.30am OLIVER SPELLMAN/JIM OWENS: Solid performers all year, qualifying in second place in a tough section.

PADRAIG WATTERS/ALAN LILLIS: Were right in the shake-up last year and should be again after going undefeated throughout their qualifying group.

11.40am JOHNNY KIVLEHAN/EDDIE WATTERS: Won their section out of nowhere and demonstrated their ability to score heavily in the process. LIAM KAVANAGH/PETER KAVANAGH: What would the Winter League be like without the Kavanaghs? Enough said.

11.50am SHANE MARTYN/WOLFGANG LEITZ: On a good slow burn in terms of form over the past couple of weeks, fighting well to make the playoffs and then edging into the final.

GERRY KILBRIDE/DAVID LINDSAY: Will David Lindsay finally win a Winter League, to add to the rest of his haul? Only he can answer that question.

12noon CON HEGARTY/NORMAN ASHE: Will be hoping to repeat their blitz of a start last Sunday, when they won the first six holes on their way to leading the playoffs.

STANLEY HARTE/FRANK GANNON: Always in contention, always in the final. Hard to ignore after finishing second in a tough group.

12.10pm DECLAN ROONEY/MARK ROONEY: The two-time Winter League champions are as good a certainty to be contending once again as any other team in the final.

DECLAN BASQUILLE/TOMMY BASQUILLE: This is their fifth final in a row, after finishing third in their section, so there won’t be any nerves. They contended well last year and can do again.

STRANDHILL GOLF CLUB LADIES SECTION Below are results for last Tuesday 2ND MARCH. SENIOR LADIES SECTION. Category A:1. Pat Mooney, 2 Caroline Peacock, 3, Ann Boylan Category B: 1 Gertrude Crummy, 2, Ceola Healy, 3, Conni

JUNIOR ALLIANCE THURS 4TH MARCH After a 2 hour delay due to frost and hard ground the Strandhill Junior Alliance finally teed off with 50 ladies golfers competitors. It was worth the wait as it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day with perfect golfing conditions. The Alliance was cut to a 15 hole competition due to the late start.

RESULTS

1st BRENDA MC CALLION 35PTS

2ND PAT MOONEY 31PTS

GROSS MARGART RHATIGAN (CO. SLIGO) 13 GROSS

3RD ANN CONLON 30PTS

4TH MAXI SLOWEY 29PTS

5TH CLAIRE MC LOUG 29PTS

6TH CHRIS OW 28PTS

7TH CHRISTINE TIGHE 27PTS

1ST NINE URSULA HUGHES 22PTS

BACK NINE CLAIRE CRYAN (Boyle) 18PTS

0 - 18 GILLIAN BALLANTYNE 26PTS

THE NEXT AND LAST OUTING FOR THIS YEARS JUNIOR

ALLIANCE IS ON THURSDAY THE 1ST APRIL AND THIS IS THE

LADY'S CAPTAINS DAY. A LARGE TURNOUT IS EXPECTED SO

PLEASE CHECK WITH THE PRO SHOP ON THE MORNING IF

YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES.THE CAPTAIN WOULD LIKE TO

THANK ALL LADIES WHO TRAVELLED FOR THE ALLIANCE

SINCE LAST OCTOBER AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING

YOU IN APRIL.

RESULTS FOR SUNDAY 7H MARCH

15 HOLE STABLE FORD COMP

1ST MARIE ROONEY 30PTS

2ND STEPHANIE CONLON 29PTS

3RD MARGARET BYRNE 28 PTS

THURSDAY THE 11TH MARCH

THERE WILL BE A 15 HOLE STABLE-FORD COMPETITION

THIS THURSDAY AND DRAW TIME IS BETWEEN 1PM TO 1.30 PM.