Fintan’s silver lining as Ella also impresses

Deerpark Pitch and Putt Club’s Fintan Martin receiving his silver medal and prize from Liam Leahy (left), Pitch and Putt Ireland Youth Officer, and Mervyn Cooney, Pitch and Putt Ireland President

KILLARNEY’S Fintan Martin came agonisingly close to overall glory in the national under 16 strokeplay pitch and putt championships at the weekend with a super performance in Athgarvan, Co Kildare.

The Deerpark club member won a silver medal and, in fact, he was the 18-hole leader in the boys’ section with a score of one under par.

He finished the tournament on five under par to claim second place as Jack Mullins of Kilbeggan birdied the last two holes to take the title on seven under.

Fintan replicated his brother Lorcan’s second place finish in the 2016 event at Royal Meath.

To complete a great double in Athgarvan, Ella Moynihan of Tralee was a silver medal winner in the girls’ competition.

Her performance was all the more impressive following the sad passing of her grandmother prior to last Saturday’s event and she finished second with rounds of 67 and 68 to finish on 135, six shots behind the winning score posted by Lucan’s Eimear Ahern.

Ella was once again runner-up to Eimear having lost to her in the national girls’ matchplay final in Clonmel last month.

Her performance was the best by a Kerry player in the competition since Deerpark’s Eileen McCarthy finished second in the 1999 competition.

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