Killeavy Win Ulster Golf Championship

Armagh's 2003 footballer of the year Stevie McDonnell put the disappointment of the Orchard County's early championship exit this year behind him to lead his Killeavy club to provincial glory in the Ulster final of the FBD GAA All-Ireland Golf Challenge at the immaculate Concra Wood in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan on Friday.
It was nail-biting stuff for the south Armagh club as they posted their 80 points total early last Friday and looked to have won it from McDonnell's former manager Joe Kernan's Crossmaglen team by three points until local Monaghan outfit Oram, the last team out on the day, came in with the same score as them.
However, McDonnell, his uncle Michael, Michael Concannon and Jim McKay were able to breath a sigh of relief after a count-back on the back nine revealed that they had beaten the Oram team of Gerry Mcmahon, Noel Flanagan Snr. Dermot Mcbride and Noel Flanagan Jnr. by two points, 41 to 39.
In the end, Kernan's Crossmaglen team had to settle for third place on 77 Pts put together with Michael McEltaggart, Gene Duffy and Paudie Kindrin ahead of Tyrone's Carrickmore who finished with 76 on what was a testing day on the picturesque course designed by both Christy O'Connors. Despite losing to Monaghan in the opening round of the qualifiers, McDonnell has reached an All-Ireland final in September and there he will line up against, among others, former Tipperary star Declan Ryan, who will guide his Clonoulty-Rossmore crew into battle. Former champions Claremorris of Mayo and Dublin outfit St Jude's complete the domestic finalists and the four provincial winners will be joined in Faithlegg on September 12 and 13 by the New York and Chicago qualifiers, who will be decided in the coming weeks.

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