Glorious weather and a stunning golf course in Bunclody County Wexford provided the backdrop to the return of team golf, as Maynooth University and South-East Technological University claimed the ‘A’ and ‘B’ categories respectively.

Six teams from across the country headed for the foothill of Mount Leinster to tee it up in the beautiful Bunclody Golf and Fishing club, with the semi-finals taking place in the morning followed by the finals after lunch.

The format for the competition saw 20 teams split into A and B grades, and a team of five golfers who contested five singles matches. Once the group stages were finished the top team in each group advanced to the knock out phase.

The morning Category A semi-final saw University College Cork defeat Ulster University 3-2, with the deciding game in this match being won by an incredible shot into the par 5 18th hole from UCC’s Robbie Walsh which set up a winning birdie.

University College Cork then faced Maynooth University in the final, and this would go all the way to the final match with some fantastic golf played by both teams. UCC won the opening two matches of the final as Robbie Walsh beat David O’Malley 5&3, and Barry Keane defeated Eoin Magill also 5&3. Maynooth University began to get the upperhand in the final three matches and would win all three, as Ben Cahill was a 5&3 winner over Ryan McCarthy, Calum Duane was an impressive 6&4 winner over Mark O’Donoghue, and it was Tom Clancy who finished the match with 5&3 win over Alex Dineen.

The morning semi-final in Category B saw Queens University Belfast come through 3-2 against University College Dublin. South East Technological University were to come out on top in another very close final. Queens lead the proceedings with the first two games going the ways of the Belfast University as Joshua Southern beat Michael Behan, and the second match was won by Matt Sinclair against Antonion Garina. Keevan Doherty would get the first crucial point on the board for SETU with a final hole win over Nathan Rewhorn with Doherty coming from 3 down with 4 to play for victory. James Lennon and Alan Mahoney would get the job done for SETU in the final two matches with victory over Anthony Rolston and Ryan Armstrong respectively.