Castle claimed the AIG Barton Shield for the first time with a four-hole win over Castleknock at Tramore.
They were euphoric and it speaks volumes about their strength and depth they could do it without international Robert Moran.
“We’d an incredible panel and I am not even sure how many players we used throughout the whole campaign,” said captain James Behan after the top pairing of Alex Gleeson and Ross McKeever held off a charging Irish Close champion Quentin Carew and Paul Coughlan.
“It was very tight towards the end, crucial halves on 12 and 13 for Alex and Ross, which looked unlikely, made all the difference," explained Behan.
AIG Barton Shield
Quarter-finals: Cork bt Galgorm Castle 4 h; Tralee lost to Donaghadee 2 h; Castleknock bt Roscommon 1 h; Castle bt Rosslare 3 h.
Semi-Finals: Cork lost to Castleknock 5 holes (Cork names first): I O’Rourke & B Kelleher lost to P Coughlan & Q Carew 4 h, G O’Flaherty & M Cain lost to R Kennelly & I O’Connell 1 h.
Donaghadee lost to Castle 4 holes (Donaghadee names first): W McCully & N Boyd lost to A Gleeson & R McKeever 3 holes, Garth J Boyd & A Clegg lost to P McKeever & J Walsh 1 hole
Final: Castleknock lost to Castle 4 holes (Castleknock names first): Coughlan & Carew lost to Gleeson & R McKeever 3 h , Kennelly & O’Connell lost to P McKeever & J Walsh 1 h.
