Jack Donoghue Crowned Player of the Year After Thrilling Finals Day

Rochfortbridge Pitch and Putt Club brought its 2026 competition season to a fantastic conclusion on Sunday with three outstanding matches in the Player of the Year semifinals and final. With four top-class players battling it out for the prestigious Bill Swords Player of the Year Trophy, spectators were treated to some superb scoring, dramatic momentum swings and a final that went right down to the wire.

 

SEMI-FINAL 1: JACK DONOGHUE DEFEATS ANDREW COYNE

 

The opening semifinal between Jack Donoghue and Andrew Coyne was a finely balanced affair, with very little separating the two players throughout the 36-hole contest.

 

The pivotal moment arrived on the 35th hole, when Jack produced a brilliant chip-in for birdie while Andrew had a shot. That proved to be a massive turning point in the match. Heading to the final hole, Jack pitched his tee shot close to the hole and, when Andrew was unable to convert his birdie opportunity, Jack closed out the match to book his place in the final.

 

SEMI-FINAL 2: GERRY COYNE OVERCOMES MARK KELLY

 

The second semifinal was every bit as dramatic. Mark Kelly came flying out of the blocks, producing an incredible five birdies in his opening six holes, yet remarkably found himself only two holes up.

 

Mark maintained his advantage until the 27th hole, when Gerry Coyne fought his way back to bring the match all square. From there, Gerry found another gear, recording five birdies in as many holes to turn the match in his favour and secure victory on the 34th hole.

 

That set up a repeat of the previous year's final, with defending champion Gerry Coyne facing Jack Donoghue for the 2026 title.

 

THE FINAL: JACK DONOGHUE WINS A CLASSIC

 

The final between Gerry Coyne and Jack Donoghue was a fitting conclusion to the day's action, with both players producing some excellent pitch and putt in a fiercely contested match.

 

The opening 18 holes were nip and tuck, with Jack edging a couple of holes ahead before Gerry battled back to close the gap. The pattern continued into the second round, with Gerry briefly taking the lead before a poor tee shot on the 12th hole handed the advantage back to Jack.

 

With four holes remaining, Jack held a two-hole lead and looked to be in control, particularly with a shot in hand on the penultimate hole. However, Gerry showed tremendous determination, winning the 33rd hole to reduce Jack's advantage to just one.

 

The drama continued on the 34th hole, where Gerry missed a four-foot birdie putt that would have secured the hole and brought the match back all square, leaving Jack with a precious one-hole lead and a shot to come on the 35th.

 

This time, Jack made no mistake. He held his nerve and secured his par to win the match and claim the 2026 Player of the Year title.

 

It was a superb performance from Jack, who had already shown his class in overcoming Andrew in the semifinal before producing the goods again when it mattered most in the final. His consistency, composure and ability to deliver under pressure made him a thoroughly deserving champion.

 

Congratulations to Jack Donoghue on becoming the 2026 Player of the Year! A fantastic achievement and a fitting reward for an outstanding season.

 

THANK YOU

 

A sincere thank you to our course maintenance staff for the excellent condition of the course, and to the members of the Greens Committee who ensured the greens were cut on Sunday morning, helping provide the best possible playing conditions for the finals.

 

Thanks also to Declan Usher and Patricia McCarthy for providing the refreshments afterwards, and to the club members who came out to watch and support the players as our season reached its climax.

 

It was particularly pleasing to see Bill Swords in attendance to present the Bill Swords Player of the Year Trophy to our worthy winner, Jack Donoghue.

 

Finally, congratulations to all four semifinalists — Jack Donoghue, Andrew Coyne, Gerry Coyne and Mark Kelly — for providing such excellent entertainment and showcasing the standard of pitch and putt within the club.

 

🏆 Well done, Jack Donoghue — 2026 Player of the Year! ⛳