Inside Track: Good putting, scoring and tipping on Carroll Challenge programme

We had a great day at the Carroll Memorial Challenge last Saturday week. The weather was fine for the golf, penalty-taking and free-kicking, and to make the tipster competition at the dog track fun-filled, all that was needed was grub, a few drinks and some exciting finishes.

There were plenty of the latter, and that being the case, the cheers from punters, some of them first-timers, was deafening.

The golf was over nine holes at the perfectly-groomed Ballymascanlon Hotel course, and given that the conditions were nigh perfect, it was no surprise to hear the scoring was good.

READ NEXT: Inside Track: Pele was a marked man at the 1966 World Cup finals

Brian Casey and David Lennon couldn’t be separated when Martin Finnegan did the final tot, both coming in with 24 points.

Former Louth goalkeeper, Neil Gallagher, was the man between the posts trying to stop as many penalties as possible. He kept quite a few from going in, facing 27 contestants, but couldn’t prevent Niall Rogan from coming in with a 100% record.

Young Niall didn’t finish at that. In a second phase of this discipline, he managed to hit the crossbar on a couple of occasions, making him the clear winner at Bellurgan FC’s Flynn Park.

Meanwhile, others in the four-person teams were testing their free-taking skills at St Patrick’s Páirc Éamon, in Lordship.

A present and former Louth player, Dylan McKeown and Eoin O’Connor, along with last year’s winner, Brian Cummins, were to the fore here. It ended with McKeown taking the honours, regaining the title he’d won two years ago. O’Connor finished second

It was all to play for in the fourth and final leg, McKeown’s Dundalk Gaels team and Ciarán Rogan’s Cooley outfit representatives set to test their tipping skills at the dog track.

Your writer was in the Gaels colours, and made a promising start, flying from traps with the first three winners. This, however, was a contest more suited to stayers. Fatigue soon set in, and after taking over the lead, the Rogan team’s Alan Connor was an assured winner from early in the home straight. That was enough to give the Cooley outfit the team award.

There was a huge array of prizes for the raffle that took place on the night. The money raised, along with team entry fees, will go to a charity.

Our clan wish to thank all who donated prizes, participants in the various events and the organisers. Also, Ballymascanlon Hotel, Bellurgan FC, St Patrick’s and Dundalk Stadium for the use of their facilities and helping with the organisation.

“Indefatigable” is a word we’ve hung on Martin Finnegan, the chief organiser, a few times. We’ll have to think of something even more suitable. The lad’s grá for work is immeasurable; Bellurgan FC are very lucky to have him in their ranks.