Abbeyleix Golf Club aim for history making win in Shannon

As one of the first 60 clubs founded in Ireland, Abbeyleix have a long and storied history at Inter-Club level but as yet the AIG Jimmy Bruen crown has eluded the almost 130 year old club but this week the Leinster Central champions aim to rectify that as they get set tee up in Shannon tomorrow.

The All-Ireland Inter-Club season enters its penultimate week as the AIG Women’s Minor Foursomes and the Men’s Jimmy Bruen Shield semi-finals get underway tomorrow morning with eight clubs vying for the coveted green pennants.

Following regional success Ballina, Howth, Courtown and host club Shannon will compete for the Women’s Minor Foursomes crown while Galway Bay, Ardee, Clonakilty and Abbeyleix will battle it out for the Jimmy Bruen Shield.

Having been involved with team selections in Abbeyleix for the past three years, team captain Ronan Purcell is no stranger to success, having seen his AIG Pierce Purcell teams through to two previous All-Ireland appearances and this time around with full focus on the Jimmy Bruen, preparations have gone well ahead of another showing.

“I try to get a team probably picked a couple of weeks before the match so then the lads know who they are playing with so they can go out and I try and encourage them to go out and practice as much as they can,” said Purcell.

“Over the last three years I have had no complaints over commitment with any team, they trust in me, they have gone to practice, they seem to be well up for it and the success we have had over the last couple of years I think more people see it and more people want to be a part of it and more people are playing.”

In 1929 the first recorded interclub competition took place between Portarlington and Abbeyleix and almost 100 years later the importance of club competition is not lost on Purcell and all involved at the county Laois club.

“There has been success, probably not as much winning as we would like, but to win these is hard but definitely the club has pushed especially the last six, seven years, maybe a few more to get back on the Inter-Club scene, trying to get panels up early, they have managers picked early to go ahead with their panels and try and push for success,” said Purcell.

“It’s working and if we can top it off this year and win an All-Ireland it would be fantastic. The club is pushing for it now over the last couple of years.”

Almost 130 years on from the establishment of the club, a historic victory would be an incredible achievement for Purcell and his side and the perfect way to start the big birthday celebrations.

“There’s a great buzz this year with Inter-Club and the Jimmy Bruen is the last one we are in so it’s the final push to try and get that famous green pennant,” said Purcell.

“We have a couple of Pierce Purcell pennants but the Jimmy Bruen, we have only really done well a couple of times in it but to get that first All-Ireland pennant would be huge for the club. We’re here to win and we’ll do our best to try and get over the line.”

The AIG Men’s Jimmy Bruen Shield semi-finals will be down for decision first on Friday morning with Galway Bay taking on Ardee from 10am before Clonakilty face Abbeyleix from 10.40am.

The opening semi-final of the AIG Women’s Minor Foursomes tees off at 11.30am when Ballina face Howth before Shannon take on Courtown at 12.10pm.

Follow all the action here.