Stephen Murray comes into this Championship with no pressure on his shoulders – not even from himself this time. Fresh from two weeks holiday including the World Strokeplay (he scored like he was on holiday anyway) the search for that much coveted  title goes on, yet again a case of so-near yet so-far for this resilient Old County man. One of the few Leinster players with positive Championship credit on this course he comes in under the radar, and that is usually when Murray does damage (When we were kids we agreed that wherever one of us won a national title, we’d go on the gatt through that county on the way back to civilisation. Thankfully for both of our livers’ that promise is unlikely to be acted upon next week)
He plays alongside Mark Ryan from Limerick, a player that I would use as an example for any disillusioned senior in a smaller county. One of my favourite players to watch in the years either side of the Millenium, he always seemed to be in these competitions, and always shooting 96, always consistent. He will need to go lower than that to force his way into the playoff – but himself and Murray could have a good slog together.

Next up is one of the more unlikely pairings – the colour and the flair of the continent in the shape of Rene Jan Bloem, and the, eh, charm of North Strand Dublin in John Dennis. Rene has been a revelation since his arrival from Holland and his relocation to Mullingar and in particular the Collinstown club. Quite possibly the only person in the country to express a “love” for Mullingar (perhaps he likes the Brad Pitt film “Snatch”?), as found when I got chatting to him in Athgarvan, a chat with Rene is always worthwhile, and he is quite obviously itching to get back playing fully following a bizarre injury. Rene is a serious competitor and that passion is a delight to see.

John Dennis meanwhile is one of the most dangerous players in Dublin – he just doesn’t seem to give a toss! A very positive person, extremely likeable with a hint of roguery, John has always had talent to burn and when he qualifies he nearly always pushes for a playoff spot. I think he could be one who does really well on Sunday and possibly the most languid style in pitch and putt today can be devastatingly effective when his pitches are on the mark.

Ian Dillon must attempt to put a frustrating campaign behind him as he tries to get back to summit of the game. He’s been overshadowed this season by both the old dogs for the hard road, Joe and Frank, and that must be annoying given how long Carey was in the way for. Dillon remains an enigma, immensely talented, but still the final senior from the clutch of Senior Byrne and Dillon players to win a senior title – ouch! That record may be put to the sword in years to come, but for the moment it is beyond fanciful to suggest otherwise.
Ronan Whelan is usually a steady hand at the tiller, which is fine for qualifying, but not ideal to mount a charge on Strokeplay Sunday. The Kilbeggan stalwart has done Westmeath County Board a great service this year with his reporting of all matters Pitch and Putt, and deserves all the plaudits he receives. Keep it up Ronan.

That brings me nicely onto the Magnus Opus – Ray Murphy. I naively suggested that it was time for one of the pretenders to put the final nail into the coffin of the icon Murphy. Heresy! And sure enough he rammed it back down my throat with a clinical display of Pitch and Putt. With the exception of the semi-final, he always looked comfortable, and the nine in a row birdies against Courtney is something that takes a long time to get over. Make no mistake; he was out of it until possibly the best single feat of the championship happened. Ironically enough, at a time when he was playing often in Rocklodge a few years ago, it was felt that due to circumstance he’d go on to record more National titles but he experienced a barren spell for the first time in a decade, and yet here he is staring a potential double in the eyes! He surely has to be favourable odds to complete history now?
Young Jason Larkin who plays alongside Ray, could do worse than spend the two rounds watching how Murphy conducts himself on the course. Concentration, detachment and incredible self-belief are all key traits in these guys. Larkin has one, and needs to work hard on the other two if he’s to transfer potential into success.

Tralee’s Jason O’Regan was the nearly man of a few championships during the noughties, and while he’s far from finished, he is definitely in the slipstream of the younger men (Goodall and Fleming) and it will take a good day to claim the title his performances over a short period merited. Donal Duggan from St Anne’s is one of Pitch and Putt’s good guys. A tremendously hard worker in the club, this guy is integral to everything positive that has happened in St Anne’s since its revival midway through the last decade. He has taken as much pleasure from seeing his clubmates success as if it one of his own, and a good performance would a fitting reward for the genial Duggan.

Frank O’Donoghue is twice-former winner of the National Gents Strokeplay Championship. Too young for his first victory in the days when “Internet” meant a means to trap bandit Junior players in Tipperary, I bore witness to the day he ground down Derry McCarthy, and it was a joy to behold. Those days are long in the past now, but Frank has proved time and again that he is well able to hold his own still, at this level.  I must apologise to his partner Cathal Dunne. I told the world (well Kildare and its environs) that Dunne was a Ryston player live on radio a fortnight ago as he made a valiant pitch for glory. Of course Cathal is a Bridget’s man, and his performance in Ryston caught me off guard. A wonderful 95 was followed by a disappointing 50 which meant he missed out by a shot on a medal, but a great performance nonetheless.

Paul Nolan and William Buckley Junior will play 36 holes with the minimum of fuss, the minimum of distraction, and hopefully with plenty of excitement. Both players have seen different trajectories recently, Nolan’s definitely on the up, while Buckley keeps making a fool of me (“an easy job” I can imagine him saying right now) as he follows a middling performance with a winning performance, something he’s done a few times now since he’s been joined by some of the emerging younger players. Both players have the capability of making a significant impact on the Championship, and I’m not going to make the mistake of disregarding Buckley again. Easier greens should suit him, and if he can get a few putts to sink early doors then he’ll do well. Nolan has the added incentive of a good performance meaning likely selection for the Dublin team. He’ll need to qualify I’d imagine, so two rounds of quality gives double the reward. Simples!

Senan Kavanagh is one of the likeable guys in Pitch and Putt, and his seamless assimilation into the Dublin scene is testament to his character and likeability as a human being. Thoughtful in how he approaches the game, he doesn’t take things too seriously, and doesn’t employ the same intensity as say a John-John or a Junior for example. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to do well, of course, and keeps well abreast of comings and goings across all the grades. I wouldn’t rule him out of the playoff altogether but he’d want some performance.  That could come from his playing partner, the man they call the Jaw, one half of arguably the best sibling greenkeeping team in the country(as the old saying goes, 50% of nothing is still...) Gary is one guy who will feature in the final round.
An emotional player, if things start well O’Sullivan could go postal, and really lay down his credentials. The Munster Matchplay win was a timely fillip for a player who has fallen into the shadow of his two bright clubmates, and Gary will have plenty of self-belief in his quest for glory on Sunday.

The penultimate group is an epic pairing, and really could have two medallists, with John Ross Crangle taking the lead for Anthony O’Loughlin. Crangle has been the coming force for a few years, and has had his opportunities to claim the big prize just slip by, on Cork soil too, so he will be far from over-awed at the task at hand. Conversely a player who doesn’t respond well to too much practice, Crangle has nerves of steel, and the Cajónes to match too – never afraid to speak out if something is not right – but he needs to get right back in the saddle in the Nationals as that is two in a row that he’s disappointed in (Strokeplay in RGSC and Matchplay in Lucan – where he didn’t even qualify). Undisputedly the best player in Leinster so far this decade, he has taken the baton that passed from Carolan to Hayden to Downes to Buckley and now he needs to claim his own national title to stand equal with the aforementioned.
O’Loughlin of course has that title, won on a day when if a putt here or there had of gone differently for both players, then the roles could easily have been reversed. If Dicky Ecklund was the Pride of Lowell in the Motion Picture “The Fighter”, then Ant’ can justifiably be called “the Pride of Youghal” (see what I did there, eh?).

My favourite for the title had we not had the monsoon season early, the absolute drowning the greens have received is likely to have a fierce impact on O’Loughlin’s pitching. He will need to put that to one side though, as he can be heavily involved in these finals if he so wishes. A definite for the final round, it will be interesting to see how close to the summit he is after 36.
The final pairing sees the two James, McLoughlin of Erins Isle and Ryan of Tipp Hills close session one. McLoughlin is another Dub with the chance of making the county team, and much will depend on his score here, as it is a final trial between 4 players. He’s had a fine season without anything tangible to show for it, but do not bet against a spot in the last round. Ryan too is a capable player and will look to replicate the scoring in last year’s Championship.

Second half of the preview tomorrow evening as the Seniors snuggle down to bed early in preparation. See you in a couple of hours.