Danny Liddles photo-finish winners of Carroll Memorial Challenge

There were 120 contestants in the Éamon Carroll Memorial Challenge on Saturday last. Teams of four took part in different disciplines – golf, penalty-taking, free-taking and greyhound racing tipping – and at the end of a fine day’s sport, the Danny Liddles were declared the narrowest of winners over Big Shay Shooters.

The winning team was captained by Martin Finnegan, who, along with his wife Lorraine, played a huge role in organising the event, which was having its fifth renewal.

Both are key members of the Bellurgan United FC, and along with others from the club, presided over by Colm Woods, were joined by St Patrick’s GFC players in the smooth running of the day-long programme.

The golf, which had a field of 30, with handicaps ranging from the very low to the maximum, was decided over nine holes on the Ballymascanlon course.

Dundalk FC chairman, Seán O’Connor, had charge of making sure the contestants got off on schedule. It was won by Jack Rice with 21pts. Paul Mulligan took second, one point behind, giving his team, Danny Liddles, a good start.

Meanwhile, at Bellurgan’s Tom Flynn Park, Seán Casey converted his five penalties along with a number of others. That put the leaders on to another task – trying to hit the crossbar with a free. Seán Casey was the only one to succeed, and so took the honours.

All-Star, Paddy Keenan, and his St Patrick’s colleague, Aidan McCann, had charge of the free-taking at Lordship’s Páirc Eamoin.

Both were also contestants, and while they finished in the top ten – Keenan showing the kind of style that made him one of the county’s best in a stellar career to finish on 25pts, with McCann just four points further back – it was Adam Finnegan who had the top spot, claiming 26pts, giving a further boost to Liddles.

It was then on to the dog track for an 11-race card, the feature of which was the final of the Paddy & Éamon Carroll Memorial Stake, carrying a first prize of €2,500.

Big Shay’s Shooters, captained by Ciarán Rogan, made up a lot of ground here, like some of the greyhounds out on the track, and going into the last race they were neck and neck with Danny Liddles.

Division 2 Reports: St Kevins take control of race for the title

Division 2 Reports: St Kevins take control of race for the title

Neither managed to come with the winner, but because their selection finished ahead of the Shooters’, Liddles were declared winners, much to their captain’s delight. Josh Conlon was the fourth member of the winning team.

The betting for the Carroll Memorial Stake was very open with bookie, Mickey Rooney, going 3/1 the field at one stage. It was a runner at those odds, Prince’s Street, in the ownership of Scotland’s Howard Wallace, and trained by Mullingar-based Francie Murray, who got the verdict, winning by just over four lengths from Co Fermanagh representative, Tahina Iceman.

The money raised from the day’s event will go to the North Louth Hospice, which is affiliated to the Irish Cancer Society.