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Winter League preview - Day 3 - Group B

Posted on 8 Jan '25 by Dave Hayden II

GROUP B
Next up in this year's Winter League preview is Group B. While these teams may not possess the same masochistic tendencies as their Group A counterparts, these courageous individuals will nonetheless be unleashing themselves upon the course at the ungodly hour of 9:30am. Indeed, who among us does not relish the prospect of having their collective posterior regions subjected to the frigid embrace of a chilly winter's morn?



Dream Team: (Paul County -2, Johnny Price -3, Michael Byrne -5 & Roisin Harpur -11; combined handicap: -21)

The legendary Dream Team has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the Lucan Winter League's storied past, cementing its status as one of the most iconic and celebrated teams in the league's illustrious history. Basking in the glory of their resounding triumphs in 2005 and 2012, the Dream Team's relentless pursuit of excellence left their opponents grappling with restless nights for an entire decade. Furthermore, their commendable second-place finishes in 2002 and 2010 only served to solidify their reputation as a surreal force to be reckoned with. After a bit of a slumber, the Dream Team underwent a reawakening in 2022, with 1992 Dublin Gents Matchplay and 1998 Dublin Gents Strokeplay winner Johnny Price being the sole survivor from the original line-up. Despite a wealth of experience, Johnny will encounter a rare challenge this year, as alterations in handicap have resulted in his relocation from the leading match to the secondary game, a shift from his customary position. The Dream Team's new lead man is Paul County, who hasn't looked out of place since moving into the Senior ranks following his win in the 2023 Portmarnock Inter Scratch Cup. With the team remaining unchanged for the third consecutive season, Michael Byrne remains the "new boy", having made his Winter League debut with the Tractormen in 2022. While Michael had a quiet 2024 on the playing front, the same cannot be said of the final member of the side, Lucan Scratch Cup Ladies Class 2 winner Roisin Harpur, who picked up five competition wins over the course of the season. With semi-final appearances in the last two seasons, the Dream Team are no longer Lucan's sleeping giants and despite having the lowest combined handicap of any team, for many they are still THE nightmare opponent!



McCann Cans: (Peter Keogh -8, Brendan Keane -9, Eileen Loakman -13 & Ann McCann -19; combined handicap: -49)

The McCann Cans, formerly known as Nite Link, have maintained a remarkably stable line-up over the years. In fact, there has been only one change since their inception, when Danny Kilduff briefly stepped in to replace Brendan for the 2018 season, but this temporary substitution did little to disrupt the group's cohesion. This unwavering continuity and "can do" attitude paid dividends in 2020, as the quartet achieved the ultimate goal in emerging victorious as the Winter League champions. The team's namesake Ann McCann enjoyed a triumphant 2024, in which she not only won the President's Prize, but was also crowned Ladies Player of the Year for the first time in her playing career. Not to be outdone, teammate and 2023 President's Prize winner, Peter Keogh, also showed his prowess in the Player of the Year with a remarkable 78th place finish in the Gents event. Next up is serial winner Eileen Loakman, who enjoyed yet another successful season, picking up six club prizes including victory in the Club Mixed Foursomes Matchplay alongside Robert Mannix. The final member of the canny quartet is the aforementioned Brendan Keane, who is nothing if not consistent, having won at least one club prize every year for the past eleven years. Since their win in 2020, the McCann Cans have struggled to produce their best form, failing to escape their group in 2022 and 2024 and suffering elimination at the quarter-final stage in 2023. The McCann Cans possess a remarkable combination of expertise and teamwork, positioning them as a tough challenger for any competitor. Dismissing them merely due to their recent performances would be ill-advised. With a distinctive mix of talent and one of the highest combined handicap in this year's competition, there's every chance that they will surprise us once again... remember, if anyone can, the McCann Cans can!



Misfits: (Andy Fitzgerald -8, Ronnie Guinan -10, Mark Hegarty -15 & Fionna Langan -16; combined handicap: -49)

Last season the Poppys (formally Langan's Ball) had the distinction of appearing in the Winter Leagues with an unchanged line-up for the ninth consecutive season, a Winter League record. Sadly though, all good things must come to an end and the team disbanded following their quarter-final exit in the 2024 event. However, two of the Poppys team hope to have found a new home with the fledgling Misfits, one of four new teams for the 2025 season. The first of the two former Poppys is the atypical Andy Fitzgerald, who with over fifty club prizes under his belt, will lead the team off in singles each week. Andy will be joined by fellow former Poppy the flawed Fionna Langan, who won the Leinster Ladies Junior Strokeplay Championship in 2014. Following her best club season on record, with seven prize wins, Fionna will be a player few will be eager to face. The third member of the unorthodox crew, the misaligned Mark Hegarty, is another player who found himself without a team, with Price's Penguins taking the decision not to play in 2025. Despite not yet securing his first club victory, Mark demonstrated substantial progress during the latter part of 2024 and will be a formidable opponent for any player during the Winter Leagues. The final member of the nonconformist crew is Winter League debutant and 2024 Lucan Gents Player of the Year, random Ronnie Guinan. Ronnie's performance throughout the 2024 season was marked by unwavering steadiness, a testament to his skill and dedication, all of which make him a player that many will be reluctant to face this season. Like any new team, their success or lack of, is very difficult to predict. Maybe they'll prove to be more than a sum of their parts or maybe they're all just square pegs in round holes, only time will tell.


Unknowns: (Barbara Coogan -13, Dave Perry -14, Brian Hargadon -16 & David Hargadon -16; combined handicap: -59)

The second of four new teams in this year's event are the Unknowns. A team that is comprised of one veteran and three unfamiliar faces, in terms of the Winter Leagues at least! We'll start off with the most known Unknown, Barbara Coogan, who was part of Lucan's National Team Event winning side in 2003. Barbara has previously represented the Rhinos and Christy's Gang, but is probably best known as a member of Coogan's Bluff with whom she won the Winter League crown in 2015. Joining Barbara is the first of the mystery men, Dave Perry making his Winter League debut. Dave only joined the club in 2024, but has already picked up his maiden prize, finishing runner-up in Class 3 in the Memorial Competition. The next obscure figure emerging from the darkness is Brian Hargadon, who like Dave also joined Lucan in 2024. David also broke his duck and claimed his maiden victory, picking up the non-winner prize over the Bonanza weekend. The final enigmatic entrant is Brian's son David Hargadon, another player who only joined in 2024, David has outdone his teammates and has already picked up two club wins. As previously mentioned, it's hard to determine the strength of new teams, but when a team has so many debutants, it really is unknown territory. While it may be a questionable tactic to include three unknown quantities on one team, it must be noted that the Unknowns have the highest combined handicap of any team this year. If they can crack the cryptic conundrum that is the Winter League course, this enigmatic ensemble could confound all who stand in their way!


Group B prediction:
Group B has me perplexed. On one hand, I can't really see any scenario in which the Dream Team don't make it out of the group, while on the other hand, I keep changing my mind on who'll join them. I think the least likely of the three are McCann's Cans, as they don't seem to be able to recapture the magic of their title winning year and the formbook backs this up. With such a big handicap, I think the Unknowns are capable of causing some serious upsets if they can hit the ground running, but with only three group games their inexperience may just cost them this time around. So, that just leaves the Misfits, who not only have two experienced campaigners in the former Poppys, but also the Gents Player of the Year, which might just be enough to see them go through.
Going through: Dream Team & Misfits. Going out: McCann's Cans & Unknowns.