Junior Cup team lose in All-Ireland semi-final

Banbridge had won the Ulster title and they were drawn against the Connacht champions, Portumna from Galway.

Hugo had a difficult choice to make because he had seven players, all in top form, and he could only play five of them.

After two days of practice, he decided to play Ross McCandless, Luke Woods, Rory Madeley, Jonathan Shannon and Jonathan Burns. Trevor Woods and Neil Madeley missed out.

The match started brilliantly for Banbridge. After seven or eight holes, every player on the team was ahead. But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that counts.

The match was destined to take a dramatic turn.

Ross McCandless held on to beat Ger Lynch 2 and 1.

Luke Woods was three up after seven holes and looked like going four up. It didn’t happen and Sean Cleary of Portumna saw his chance. The game swung away from Luke and he lost by 2 and 1.

Rory Madeley was 2 up after 10 holes against John Cleary. But then John went birdie, birdie, par, birdie, and Rory lost four holes in a row. He went on to lose 3 and 2.

Two games which Banbridge looked like winning had slipped away. It was a bitter blow for the team and their supporters.

Jonathan Burns, who was also two up early on, lost by one hole to Shane Ryan. That was it all over. Portumna had the three wins that they needed.

Jonathan Shannon was one down against Pat Quinlan playing the last hole and his match was recorded as a half.

It was a disappointment for Banbridge. They had a team well capable of winning the Irish title but it just wasn’t to be. But they all deserve credit for what they achieved this season.