2026 National Seniors Strokeplay Gents Senior Grade Previews - By John Manning

The 36-strong cohort contesting the 2026 renewal at Rochfortbridge must be one of the most impressive set of contestants ever assembled in the history of the National Over-55 Senior grade Strokeplay championship.

Michael Ahern (Lucan) won the 2016 Leinster Intermediate Strokeplay championship at Collinstown.

John Fitzgerald (Hillview) is a Mixed and non-Mixed Scotch Foursomes specialist at national and provincial level.

1989 National Matchplay runner-up Bobby Kilduff (Lucan) makes a welcome return to the national competitive scene.

2015 European Over-55s Strokeplay champion Pacelli Darcy (Bruff) is a two-time runner-up in the National Over-55s Strokeplay, at E.S.B. in 2019 and last year at Riverdale.

Holder Chris Scannell (Collins) blew the field away at Riverdale twelve months ago. The much- decorated former National Strokeplay and Matchplay champion was also third at St. Stephen’s in 2024.

First crowned champion at Erry in 2013, Anthony Malone (Lucan) added further title successes at Old County in 2015 and at Glenville three years ago. He also claimed silver at Bellewstown in 2022.

2020 Irish Open champion at Lough Owel Pat Malone (Custume) completes that superb threeball.

It’s a proud weekend for former host club Chairman Colm Yeates and Colm will carry Rochfortbridge hopes into the fray alongside 2017 National Inter-Club winner with Fermoy Noel Collins (now Kilworth) and Ireland’s successful European Team championship manager, Paddy Kelly (Trim).

Anthony Carroll (Royal Meath) was the 2015 Intermediate champion at Old County and Nett winner in the senior grade in 2019.

Third in 2018, Sean Harkins (Ryston) will bring the accumulated experience of his three All-Ireland Matchplay wins to bear on this championship.

2024 champion at St. Stephen’s, Richard Jordan (Raffeen Creek) twice won the Best Nett award in the National Over-55s senior grade Strokeplay championship, in 2017 and 2018.

Two-time bronze medallist Tadgh Harrington (Rathfeigh) is sure to be in contention again as will 2022 National Matchplay champion Barry Morrissey (Raffeen Creek) who twice claimed third place in the National Over-55s senior grade Strokeplay championship.

2015 National Intermediate Strokeplay kingpin Damian Creevey (Lucan) was 2023 WPPT Ireland Master at Ring Commons.

Richard O’Flaherty (Raffeen Creek) was a National Mixed Team Event winner (1994) and Carrolls Club Tournament victor (1997) with Templebreedy.

2014 champion at Gaeil Colmcille and 2016 champion at Fermoy, William Sheridan (Bellewstown) also came third at Old County in 2015.

Dennis Monaghan (Shandon) represented Ireland internationally as well as winning the senior categories of the 2018 Irish Open and 2019 British Open.

Now playing out of Kilworth, Declan Freeman possesses a couple of podium finishes (third in 2023 and second a year later) and would love to complete the set.

Two-time National Matchplay semi-finalist Alan Hanlon (Collinstown) was 1985 Leinster Strokeplay champion.

Frank Ryan (St. Bridget’s) won this championship as far back as 2007 at St. Patrick’s. Further victories followed in 2018 and in 2022 at Bellewstown and the enduring Kildare man was also third at E.S.B. in 2019.

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