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Winter League preview

Posted on 20 Jan '22 by Dave Hayden II

The Winter Leagues, kindly sponsored by Halpenny Golf, makes its long-awaiting return this weekend, having fallen victim to Covid-19 in 2021. The traditional curtain raiser is one of the highlights of the season, bringing together the perfect combination of competitive and social play.

So, with six weeks of play ahead of us, let's take a look at the "runners and riders" and make some predictions, which will no doubt blow up in my face!

Group A
Proceedings will get underway each Sunday at 9am with Group A, a bunch of sadists who are happy to give up their Sunday morning lie on in order to battle the elements of the Irish winter.


Chain Smokers: (Dermot Heffernan, Tracey Smith, Simon Heffernan & Ciaran Ennis; combined handicap: -31)
The Chain Smokers made their Winter League debut in 2019, when they finished last in Group B, they followed this up in 2020 by again finishing bottom of Group B. After two poor outings, clearly the only way is up for the Chain Smokers. The team has one line-up change for this year, with Simon Heffernan making his Winter League debut, in place of John McDermott. While the Chain Smokers have flattered to deceive thus far, on paper they look very strong. Will this year be the year they finally show what they're really capable of, or will their hopes disappear in a puff of smoke?


Dan Dans: (Michael Ahern, Dan Coady, Angela Shanahan & Dolores Pegley; combined handicap: -46)
The Dan Dans are one of the Winter Leagues longest serving teams, this year sees their line-up remain unchanged for the fifth consecutive Winter League campaign and this level of consistency has really paid dividends in recent years. After finishing bottom of their group in 2017 and 2018, massive strides were made in 2019 when they finished runners-up in Group A before losing their quarter-final encounter, they improved further in 2020, topping Group A before losing out at the semi-final stage. If the Dan Dans continue their upward trajectory, Dan surely the final must beckon this year?


Knee Knockers: (Sean Dillon, Seamus McCormick, Roma McCormick & Helen Dunne; combined handicap: -66)
The Knee Knockers may be a new name to most, but it's actually the third appearance for this team, having played under the "Power City" moniker in 2019 and 2020. Helen Dunne, formally of "Helen's Heros" joins the team this year, in place of Noel Shanahan. Despite the team finishing bottom of their group on their previous two campaigns, with a combined handicap of -66, they have more shots than any other team in the league, which should be enough to make their opponent's knees knock with fear.


Poppys: (Andy Fitzgerald, Terry O'Shaughnessy, Peter Anderson & Fiona Langan; combined handicap: -47)
The Poppys are another Winter League stalwart, though the "Wiley Foxes" would be a much more appropriate name. This year sees the team compete with an unchanged line-up for at least the seventh consecutive season (likely longer, but records only begin in 2015), which is the joint longest in this year's competition. Having competed as "Langan's Ball" until 2018, they reached the final of the Winter Leagues in 2012 and again in 2020, losing out to the "Dream Team" and "McCann's Cans" respectfully. When you look at the quality of the team, you can see why they have only failed to get out of their group once in the last six years, could this be the year when the Poppys finally bloom?

Group A prediction: In a group which contains two teams which have a history of reaching the latter stages of the Winter Leagues and two teams which have a habit of finishing bottom of their groups, it's hard to go against form. Going through: Dan Dans & Poppys. Going out: Chain Smokers & Knee Knockers.

Group B
Second to take to the course each week will be those in Group B, with their matches beginning at 10:10 each week.


Eimear's Eagles: (Tom McMorrow, Noel Leonard, John Dunne & Eimear Ahern; combined handicap: -41)
2022 sees the end of an era, with the "Murphs" missing from the event, in their place is a new team formed by Noel Leonard and Tom McMorrow, two of the long-standing members of the "Murphs". Joining Tom and Noel are two Winter League debutants in John Dunne and Eimear Ahearn. While it's difficult to know what to expect from this new team, any team that can boast having a double All Ireland Girls champion is definitely one to be feared. On paper, there's no reason why Eimear's Eagles can't soar to the top of the group.


Flynn's Flyers: (Ted Flynn, Catherine Leonard, Mick Purcell & Rita Dillon; combined handicap: -48)
Flynn's Flyers are another long-serving Winter League Team and like the "Poppys", they field an unchanged team for the seventh consecutive year. Flynn's Flyers have had mixed fortunes in the Winter Leagues, finishing bottom of their group in 2015 and 2016, under the guise the "4 Soups", but the name change in 2018 coincided with a run to the semi-finals, which is their best finish to date. Despite the talent and experience in the side, they didn't make it out of the group in 2020, but there's a good probability they'll reach high altitudes this time around.


Morris Minors: (Jonathan O'Reilly, Michael Morris, Michael O'Gorman & Tess Donovan; combined handicap: -44)
The Morris Minors have changed line-ups a number of times since their first appearance in 2016, however, the team is unchanged this year, with all four members from 2020 returning. Having reached the quarter finals in both 2016 and 2017, the Morris Minors have failed to get out of their group on the last three occasions. With three strong teams joining them in Group B, they may need a Minor miracle to reach the latter stages again this year.


Onwards and Upwards: (Gerry Ward, Kevin Ward, John Murphy & Martina Tierney; combined handicap: -41) Onwards and Upwards are making their debut in the Winter Leagues this year. The nucleus of the team, Gerry and Kevin Ward, have featured together as part of "Ward's Warblers" and "Helen's Hero's" during the last three seasons, but have joined forces with Dublin Champion and Winter League debutant Martina Tierney and the returning John Murphy for the 2022 campaign. Talisman Gerry was a winner of the Winter Leagues in 2008 and while new teams are always difficult to predict, this team's combination of experience and skill will soon have them on the up and up.

Group B prediction: A very evenly matched group on paper, with a difference of only seven shots covering all the teams. Factoring in the unpredictability of two brand new teams makes this group very difficult to call. Going through: Eimear's Eagles & Onwards and Upwards. Going out: Flynn's Flyers & Morris Minors.


Group C
Into the second half of each week's proceedings and the 11:20 starting time brings us to Group C, and quite possibly, this years' "Group of Death".


Barbarians: (Barry Gorey, Barbara Furlong, Tommy Coogan & Dora Keane; combined handicap: -37)
Another debutant team for the 2022 event, but certainly not one that lacks experience. The only debutant of the four players is Barry Gorey, but having played for Dublin at Inter County level and being on various winning C.P.M. league teams, Barry will have little trouble adapting. Tommy and Barbara played together for the last three seasons as part of the "Last Legs", "Last Man Standing" and the "Hatters", while Dora has featured for the "Explorers" and the "Dream Team" in recent years. With such a vast wealth of experience behind them and the highest combined handicap in the group, they're likely to inflict some Barbaric defeats on the teams around them.


Dream Team: (Johnny Price, Paul County, Stephen Needham & Roisin Harpur; combined handicap: -33)
The Dream Team name is synonymous with the Lucan Winter Leagues and for good reason too, with victories in 2005 and 2012 along with runners-up spots in 2002 and 2010, the Dream Team for many years were one of the top two teams. However, the 2022 incarnation of the Dream Team is almost unrecognisable from the great team of the 2002-2012 period, with only Johnny Price remaining from the "classic line-up". Johnny has recruited well though, adding Stephen Needham, a four-time Winter League winner with the "Diggers" (the other of the "big two" teams) in 2007, 2011, 2017 and 2018. The nomadic Paul County also joins, appearing for his fifth different team in the past six seasons. The final member of the team is debutant Roisin Harpur. They may be called the Dream Team, but they are sure to give the other fifteen teams in this year's league a nightmare!


Philipos: (Dave Lee, Fergal Power, Frank Loakman & Sandra Keogh; combined handicap: -30)
The Philipos are another team with a long history in the Winter Leagues, having claimed victory in 2016 when they defeated the "Fridge Magnets" in the final. Since then, they have lost their leader with Philip Sweeney unable to commute from Cork on a weekly basis. Thankfully for the Philipo's, Philip's replacement Fergal Power, has settled in well. The Philipos have been eliminated at the quarter final stage in each of the last three seasons, but considering they have the fewest shots in such a tough group, they'll do well to reach that stage again this time around. Maybe they'll change their name next year, so I can come up with a pun?


Rhinos: (Gary Ryan, Noel Ryan, Evelyn O'Gorman & Barbara Coogan; combined handicap: -33)
The Rhinos have competed in the Winter Leagues under a number of different guises for the last number of years. "Coogan's Bluff" became "Christy's Gang" in 2018, before the Rhinos became the name of choice in 2019. Former Dublin Inter Strokeplay winner Gary Ryan joins the team this year, replacing Christopher Byrne. The Rhinos have been knocked out at the group stage in four of the last six years, but despite this, they went all the way in 2016 when they claimed the Winter League title, beating "Seve's Sockets" in the final. Trying to figure out if the Rhinos can get back to their 2016 level certainly puts one on the horns of a dilemma.

Group C prediction: Group C is the group that teams in Groups A, B and D are glad they avoided. With three of the four teams winning the Winter League title in recent years, it's almost impossible to call. Going through: Barbarians & Dream Team. Going out: Philipos & Rhinos.

Group D
To the final group, the 12:30 starts, those who will be only turning over for another hours sleep while the early starters are cursing them.


McCann Cans: (Peter Keogh, Brendan Keane, Eileen Loakman & Ann McCann; combined handicap: -53)
McCann Cans are the defending champions following a victory over the "Poppys" in the 2020 final. The team has seen little change in line-up since their formation as "Nite Link", with the same quartet representing the team in all but 2018, when Danny Kilduff stepped in for Brendan. Despite winning in 2020, they failed to get passed the group stages on their previous five attempts, so it really does seem to be a case of "all or nothing" with this team. Will the added pressure of being defending champions make things more difficult for them this time around or will it inspire them to go all the way again? One thing is for sure, if any team can, the McCann Cans can!


Paddy's Pirates: (Paddy Croke, Paddy Blake, Kathleen Croke & Trish Anderson; combined handicap: -35)
Paddy's Pirates return for their fifth appearance in the Winter Leagues with a slightly changed line-up, with Kathleen Croke coming in for Marie O'Toole. Having topped their group in 2019 and again in 2020, they went all the way to the final in 2019, losing out to the "Diggers" and came a cropper at the semi-final stages in 2020, losing out to the eventual winners "McCann Cans". It seems to be the case that the team that beats Paddy's Pirates win the competition. Paddy's Pirates will take some stopping again this year, and the addition of 2013 Winter League champion Kathleen Croke, may be the catalyst to Paddy's Pirates getting their hands on the ultimate piece of treasure... the Winter League trophy.


Seve's Sockets: (Dylan Colclough, Sean McGrath, Alan Doyle & Adrienne Kelly; combined handicap: -31)
Seve's Sockets are the second former Winter League winners in Group D, having claimed the title in 2017. The four players who represented Seve's Sockets on that occasion have not played together since, that is until this year! Dylan Colclough returns from his travels and reclaims his place on the team with Tony McDonnell stepping aside, while Adrienne Kelly also returns to the team in place of the departing Linda Thomson. Since victory in 2017, Seve's Sockets narrowly missed out on retaining their title in 2018, losing out in a play-off against the "Diggers". Their journey ended at the quarter final stage in 2019, while the team was absent during the 2020 edition. It's hard to tell if the return to a winning line-up will catapult Seve's Sockets back into contention or if they're heading in completely the wrong direction.


Tractormen: (Philo Condron, Dave Hayden II, Michael Byrne & Eric Doyle; combined handicap: -24)
The final new team for the 2022 Winter Leagues are the Tractormen. Formed from the remnants of the "Fridge Magnets", Philo Condron and Dave Hayden II are joined by two Winter League virgins in Michael Byrne and Eric Doyle. Philo twice reached the final with the "Fridge Magnets", but will find it difficult to repeat that feat this time around, with the Tractormen having the lowest combined handicap of all sixteen teams in this years' Winter Leagues. Facing the prospect of giving shots in almost every game, the Tractormen will know they will need to be at the very top of their game every week if they are to make the cut.

Group D prediction: Group D will begin with what I suspect will be a first ever, as two winning teams play each other in the opening match, with neither having played a game together since the final in which they won the Winter League title. Another very tight group, where a fast start will be vital. Going through: Paddy's Pirates & Seve's Sockets. Going out: McCann Cans & Tractormen.

Overall winner prediction: It's hard to see past the Dream Team this time around, but as we all know, the beauty of the Winter Leagues is the unpredictability of it all.