Portarlington ends 76-year wait for Barton Cup glory
Portarlington won the Barton Cup for the first time since 1950
Portarlington ended a 76-year wait by lifting the Barton Cup for the first time since 1950 after a dramatic 3-2 second-leg win over Dundalk at home.
Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, Portarlington knew home advantage could be decisive, and it proved to be, but only after a three-hole play-off.
The first leg had been incredibly tight, with three foursomes decided in play-offs and another finishing on the 18th.
By limiting Dundalk’s lead to one point, Portarlington felt the tie was still alive. In the second leg, Bernard Scully and Craig Kennan led the home challenge and beat Conal Murdock and Adrian Kenny 3&2.
Portarlington won the Barton Cup for the first time since 1950
Niall Cooke and David Cosgrove then won 4&3 in the bottom match to put Portarlington 4-3 ahead on aggregate.
Dundalk rallied, winning the second and third matches on the 18th green to take a 5-4 lead.
Dennis Cunningham and John Paul Casey beat Jack Corr and Dermot Keenan 1-up, while Aidan Thornton and John McKeever came from one down with two to play to beat Iain MacDonald and Aidan Moore 1-up.
All eyes turned to Dylan Dunne and Colin Murphy in the final match. Two down with six holes to play against Emmet McCabe Savage and Gary Lennon, they produced a superb comeback, winning four of the last five holes to win 2-up.
That secured a 3-2 second-leg victory and levelled the aggregate at 5-5.
In the three-hole play-off, Dunne and Murphy faced Cunningham and Casey. After Dundalk missed a chance on the first, Portarlington won the next two holes to seal the trophy by two holes.
The celebrations continued long into the evening as players and supporters savoured a famous success.
Barton Cup Final Second Leg
Portarlington 3 Dundalk 2
(Aggregate 5-5, Portarlington win after play-off
Portarlington names first
Bernard Scully & Craig Kennan beat Conal Murdock & Adrian Keny 3&2;
Iain MacDonald & Aidan Moore lost to Aidan Thornton & John McKeever 1-up;
Jack Corr & Dermot Keenan lost to Dennis Cunningham & John Paul Casey 1-up;
Dylan Dunne & Colin Murphy beat Emmet McCabe Savage & Gary Lennon 2-up;
Niall Cooke & David Cosgrove beat Tony McGuinness & Conor Murray 4&3.
Play-off: Dunne & Murphy beat Cunningham & Casey 2-up.
