The next rung of matches in the Gent’s championship follows a similar pattern to the opening section. There is a serious dark horse in the group, a form player at present, a local and a couple of guys who have proven themselves sticky in matchplay previously.
In Stephen Shoer there is arguably the form player in the competition. Following Tipperary’s decision to play the county matchplay earlier this year, and his success there, Stephen added the county strokeplay title last week to become the undisputed top gun in Tipperary. That is in addition to the fine performace in the Munster Matchplay
where he narrowly lost out in the semi-final stage to eventual winner Gary O’Sullivan.
So he is one to be watched. It’s been a rollercoaster journey since Stephen obliterated the field when winning the National Intermediate Strokeplay Championship in 2008. Yes, 5 years ago! That performance, probably the greatest Intermediate performance of all time (although Terry O’Donnell would dispute that) marked Stephen out as one for the future, and hopefully we start to see that now.
He faces George Beardsley from the Cement club in Drogheda. George isn’t cute in the “wily veteran” bracket just yet, but there is no denying that George has been on the Senior scene for many a year. It might be worth checking out whether his opponent was even born when Beardsley made his breakthrough?
Back to back qualifications from Louth are an achievement at any time, and gentle George will be expected to put Shoer to pin of his collar. I would anticipate also that the Leinster man would have far more experience of the Lucan course than his counterpart as well as greater exposure to the peculiarities of a National Championship.
Ultimately form counts for a lot, and with that in mind, I have to expect Shoer to make Sunday morning.
The next tie sees Lucan’s Mark Keane face Martin Keohane of Bruff. Immediately you have to look to the home player for an advantage. Keane is another guy who has been around the circuit once or twice in the past, and he’s always been a very solid player. He’s had a few notable performances in this competition before too, so he’ll be a tough player to eliminate.
Martin Keohane played in this event last year on his then home course of Claycastle, but has relocated to the quaint track in rural Limerick, and qualifying two years running in separate jurisdictions must be a rare feat? I would expect Keane to win, and I know that there are a couple of pundits that fancy him to do quite well on the outside rail.
Eoin Walsh nearly pulled off the story of the Pitch and Putt world last season when he narrowly lost the National Matchplay final. Playing his best Pitch and Putt in the lead-in to the event, and in elimanting one of the biggest names (JJ Walsh), he couldn’t replicate his earlier performances to finish as a magnificent runner-up. That was truly an awesome performance and in the absence of any stellar form from the leading Cork mob, quite a few people are looking to the ‘other’ Walsh to lead a charge.
Jimmy Scanlon is a man that doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He plays his pitch and putt in a similar vein. Tee; ball; pitch; walk; a simple mantra that works for Erry’s Scanlon and when he plays well he can produce very good results. I didn’t anticipate him reaching the quarter-finals in Leinster, where ultimately came unstuck to the Tullamore train of the day Darren O’Connell. I won’t rule out his chances here either, but Eoin Walsh is the overwhelming favourite, and I’d expect a result to reflect those odds.
The final tussle of this section sees Trevor Ahern of the Collins club play Leinster Matchplay runner-up Paul Nolan, from Erin’s Isle in Finglas. The popular Ahern has made a great achievement in reaching the National Finals, and if ever a player deserved a reward in cogniscence of his off-course efforts, this man would be close to the top of the prizes. A keen competitor, there will be a great interest in this game, and a decent crowd is sure to be straddling this game given the Collins influence in the match ahead.
Nolan however won’t be affected by that, or anything else for that matter. He could be nick-named the ice-man such is his coolness. Never one to look beyond each game, Nolan will be confident in himself, and will surely be the favourite to advance. As he proved in Leinster when over-turning late deficits in both the quarters and semis,
Nolan is never dead. He won’t fail in round 1 on Saturday either, that I’d be certain of.
Stephen Shoer and Mark Keane would be a mouth-watering tie, and a curious one to guage. Shoer has the tougher opener, and will probably need to step up the performance level to press pass Keane. Home knowledge counts for a lot and this will level out the form guide, in which Shoer is obviously favourite. Whether local knowledge will be enough to make up for recent performances [that’s performance, not ability, Lucan fans just so we’re clear!], I’m not so sure, and I give Shoer the nod.
Eoin Walsh and Paul Nolan is a bigger clash than most would anticipate, and will have a big bearing on the competition as Sunday wears on. Despite the clamour for the Corkman, I actually think this game is quite evenly matched, and Nolan was impressive right up to the back 18 of the Leinster final.
Last Saturday I probably would have said Walsh was favourite without a moment’s hesitation, but the final 18 scoring in Rocklodge has perplexed me, and others too I might add. I’ve also properly reflected on the Leinster Matchplay performance of Nolan too and he deserves extra credit for his temperament when the chips were down.
All things considered, I’m going to go against the bookies and favour Paul Nolan to oust last year’s runner-up.
That just leaves me with the tussle for the second quarter-final spot, between Stephen Shoer of Riverdale (Nenagh) and Paul Nolan of Erin’s Isle (Dublin). There isn’t a lot more to add. Neither player will have to adjust anything in their style for this match, both will have had tough matches to make it this far. What might be a factor is the fatigue element, and while Shoer is the form man on paper, Nolan has arguably been that bit more impressive in his play, and I think he will enjoy the prospect of playing in Lucan this weekend.
The course will suit him, and I think Paul Nolan will be the second quarter-finalist.