Castletroy Golf Club teams target more All-Ireland glory

HAVING already tasted All-Ireland success with their AIG Men’s Senior Cup winning side, Castletroy are hungry for more as their men’s and women’s teams tee up at the AIG Junior Cup quarter-finals in Athlone today, Friday.

Sixteen teams make their way to the Athlone parkland course looking to bring home silverware and the coveted green pennants, as three rounds of play contested over two days lie ahead for the eventual All-Ireland champions.

Castletroy are no strangers to glory this season, their Men’s AIG Senior Cup side ending a 31-year drought when lifting the title in Carlow just one week ago and with teams representing on both fronts this week the mood is high at the Limerick club.

In his first season in charge, Men’s team manager Paul Micks is looking to keep that recent momentum going and hopes to take some inspiration from their last AIG Junior Cup winning side ten years ago.

“It gives us that extra life, there’s great buzz around the club at the moment after 31 years to bring the Senior Cup back, it’s fantastic and the lads have seen what It means to the Senior Cup panel. If we had the Senior Cup and the Junior Cup in the club in the same year it would be fantastic,” said Micks.

“I’d know all the lads who were on the panel back then (2014), I got a phone call from the team manager John McDonnell on the way up the road this morning wishing us luck.

“I remember the celebrations ten years ago, it was a fantastic day in the club and even what you get afterwards even from juniors, to be able to see the kids come in and the kids see these cups and pennants inside in the trophy cabinet, makes a huge difference and just shows them what’s possible.”

Keith Bermingham, Brendan Reidy and Ian Irwin were all a part of that title winning side in 2014 and are once again available for selection from Micks’ panel of 12 that tee up this week. That experience a key component for Castletroy.

Micks also has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to make a title challenging team and has praised his squad and fellow backroom team member Vincent Clifford for the hard work, dedication and honesty that has got them so far this season, having come through some tough battles to reach these All-Ireland quarter-final stages.

“There has been an honesty of effort there where they have been honest with themselves and their teammates, where we’ve stood up and lads have called it out, called each other out and themselves out when they haven’t been playing well so that’s been a big part of it,” said Micks.

“The lads have that bit of grit in them, and they are able to knuckle down and perform under pressure. You have got eight good teams here; you are not able to carry anyone when you get to this level. I have confidence in the lads, confident with a competitive panel and the one great thing about it is that whoever the five get picked, the lads who aren’t picked all get behind the boys who are picked and who are representing the team and the panel.

“That’s the mindset and ethos we have had from the very start, don’t be afraid to fail but you have to push yourself and don’t be afraid to excel either.”

Anne Cullen will also take her Castletroy women’s side to Athlone looking to capture their first Junior Cup title since 2016 and having seen what it meant to both sides to capture regional success, Micks knows that with both teams competing and the supporters there to drive them on, it will hopefully make for another momentous occasion at the club.

“In Ballyneety it was great, we just got in before them, we went to the 20th hole and their match went to the 20th hole as well so the two of us won the Munster West on the same afternoon so a fantastic buzz around the place it’s great,” said Micks.

“Having that support there on the sidelines is great to have and it does make a difference to the five lads that are out there and when you see the club colours on the side you get that bit of a lift.”

The AIG Women’s and Men’s Junior Cup finals get underway in Athlone Golf Club this morning.