Riverdale win National Inter Club Pitch & Putt title
Saturday was a historic day when Riverdale Pitch & Putt Club captured the National Inter Club title, in doing so became the first Tipperary men's team to do so.
In the competition played at the Lakeside club in Templemore, Riverdale faced Collins of Cork in the semi-final, a team which included a number of the Cork Intermediate team who were crowned Munster champions earlier in the year.
The foursomes were first up and Riverdale got off to a great start as John Minogue & Jim McGrath started with a birdie and never looked back on their way to a 5&4 victory.
The second match saw Sean Minogue & Michael Brophy in action and some great play by the latter had Riverdale in a narrow lead before Minogue made some great pitches on the back nine as Riverdale gained point number 2 4&3.
The third and final foursomes turned in to an epic encounter. Seamus Gleeson has been a doughty campaigner for many years and was partnered by Ger Tuite. After 15 holes, Riverdale looked to be in trouble. A birdie putt from Seamus from just off the 16th green narrowed the margin to one and after Ger's pitch on 17 gave another birdie chance, Seamus duly converted and the sides were level. The 18th hole was halved and it was onto tie holes. The first two holes were halved. On the 21st, Seamus pitched to just off the green from where Ger duly stepped up to the mark and his birdie putt gave Riverdale a third foursomes point and a crucial 3-0 lead.
The Singles saw the youthful Sean Crowe lead the way and he took control from the off with a birdie and a chip in birdie on the fourth hole extended his advantage as he went on to win his match 4&3.
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