Dunmurry golfers reach Cup Final

Cairndhu had been the last team to beat Dunmurry in the competition. That occurred at the same stage in 2007, before going on to win the trophy that year, so the lads knew that the match was never going to be an easy one, particularly when the second leg was to be played at Cairndhu.

As it transpired, Dunmurry got the almost perfect start, winning the home leg six and a half matches to a half. Stephen Crowe had earned a hard fought half point against the opponent's top player Aaron Wilson.

Brother Darren Crowe had an equally hard fought one hole win against rising star, thirteen-year-old Neil McKinstry. There were also wins for Noel Murray, Glenn McAuley, Graham Dickson, Patrick McGlone and Gareth Abernethy.

The result meant all that was required at Cairndhu was a single point for the Dunmurry team to reach the final.

The second leg was played in extremely windy conditions, on an open Cairndhu course, exposed to the toughest of elements. Despite that, some excellent golf was played by both sides.

A poor start for Gareth Abernethy meant that he went down by 2 & 1 even though he recovered to play the last eleven holes in two under par. Graham Dickson also lost, setting the nerves on tenterhook.

At that point only Stephen Crowe and Darren Crowe held advantages in their matches, the remaining lads all losing in tight struggles, and the impossible appeared to be in reach for the home side.

Fortunately for the Dunmurry men, tensions were relieved, when Stephen Crowe edged a tight match against John McKinstry, on the last hole. This was the first time John had ever lost a match on his home course, thus was particularly satisfying for Stephen to clinch the overall victory in such a way.

The team will now play the winner of the match between Clandeboye and Galgorm Castle in the Final before the end of September.