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Winter League preview - Day 4 - Group C

Posted on 9 Jan '25 by Dave Hayden II

GROUP C
Ah, let's delve into the enthralling world of Group C, the area we've affectionately dubbed the "almost-sane domain"! In this realm, you'll find a delightful collection of individuals who appear to have a firm grasp on their faculties, as they're granted the luxury of a few extra hours of slumber before facing the daunting chill of the course. If fortune favours them, the greens may have even undergone a thawing process, lending a helping hand to their putting prowess.



Alarmed and Dangerous: (Steven Keegan -3, Alan Doyle -8, Stephen Needham -8 & Tracy Needham -11; combined handicap: -29)

I don't want to frighten you, but the Keeghams return for the 2025 season with a new name, Alarmed and Dangerous, and they also have a new face in their line-up. The team made their Winter League debut in 2022, with three of the four players having previously played for the formidable Diggers. Despite a wealth of experience, which includes two players who share nine Winter League winners medals, some harrowing performances have seen them fail to reach the knockout stages in their two campaigns. Their response? Add another player who has previously won a Winter League title! The latecomer to the line-up is 2023 Dublin Gents Junior Matchplay champion Alan Doyle, who will step in for Alex Keegan this time around. Alan claimed his Winter League title in 2017 with Seve's Sockets and could potentially rekindle his intimidating doubles partnership with Stephen Needham, with whom he has won the Club Fourball/Foursomes on four occasions, including 2024. Stephen won the Dublin Gents Junior Strokeplay in 2018 and has ominously won the Winter Leagues on four occasions, with his most recent victory coming with the Diggers in 2019. Alarmingly, Stephen is still a Junior, despite shooting a 47 in the 2024 Lucan Scratch Cup! The only man in the field with more Winter League titles than Stephen is Steven Keegan, who claimed the Winter League title on five occasions between 2001 and 2019. Steven won the Lucan Scratch Cup in 2007, but surprisingly hasn't won a singles prize in Lucan in over a decade. The siren of the team is 1989 Dublin Girls Strokeplay winner Tracy Needham, who previously appeared in the Winter Leagues for the Diggers and the Explorers. Last year Alarmed and Dangerous looked, ehhhhh, well, dangerous... but with the addition of another former Winter League winner to the team, facing them looks like a daunting challenge for any opponent…. provided the snooze button doesn't come into play!



Barbarians: (Barry Gorey -1, Barbara Furlong -10, Tommy Coogan -13 & Dermot Buckley -15; combined handicap: -39)

Now into their fourth Winter League campaign, the Barbarians see one change to their line-up, having previously remained unchanged since their first appearance in 2022. With the axe falling on Dora Keane, her sword has been passed to former New Faces team member Dermot Buckley. Dermot made his Winter League debut in 2024, where his team unexpectedly reached the last eight. Having finished 2024 in a rich vein of form, Dermot will be an interesting addition to this barbaric quartet. Dermot is joined by 2021 Dublin Ladies Inter Matchplay Champion Barbara Furlong, who had a quiet year by her standards, but will be hoping to get back to top form now that she has stepped away from the admin side of the game. Barbara is joined by her long-time teammate Tommy Coogan, having previously played together with the Hatters, Last Man Standing, Last Legs and Explorers. New Lucan President, Tommy, is no stranger to team success and was part of the Lucan quartet which won the National Team Event in Fermoy in 2003, however, just like his beloved Man Utd, Tommy's greatest days are now just a distant memory. The final member of the quartet is 2007 Dublin Gents Inter Matchplay Champion Barry Gorey. Barry confirmed himself as one of Lucan's top senior players this year, when he won the Gents Scratch Matchplay title and will be a player few will want to face. The Barbarians rampaged their way to the final in their debut season, narrowly losing out to Onwards and Upwards after a tense play-off. However, despite their impressive debut season, the Barbarians have fallen on their own swords since, having twice failed to get out of the group, finishing third on both subsequent occasions. Will they reign supreme on the battlefield this year or are they in for another brutal disappointment?



Heffos : (Dermot Heffernan -3, Paul Heffernan -13, Eoin Heffernan -16 & Ann Heffernan -21; combined handicap: -53)

The third of four new teams for the 2025 Winter League season is the Heffos. The familial foursome have an interesting mix of experience, coupled with a pair of Winter League debutants. The most experienced member of the quartet is new Lucan Gents Captain Dermot Heffernan, who is competing in his sixth consecutive Winter League campaign. Having previously featured for the Unbelievables and Oddballs, his best season came in 2022 when he was a member of the Chain Smokers side which reached the semi-finals, losing out to the eventual winners Onwards and Upwards. Dermot's wife Ann Heffernan is the second member of the team and she makes her third Winter League appearance, having also played alongside Dermot for the Unbelievables and Oddballs. Ann's persistence finally paid off in 2024, when after four years of trying, she won not one, but two club prizes. Dermot and Ann are joined in the team by their sons, Winter League debutants Paul and Eoin Heffernan. Both brothers joined Lucan for the 2024 season, however, between them they have only played in six club competitions, so they will both be something of an unknown quantity. Will the Heffos gain a hefty points total and progress from the group, or even go all the way? I heff-ent the foggiest!



Philipos: (David Lee -5, Fergal Power -7, Sandra Keogh -8 & Tess Donovan -19; combined handicap: -39)

Last year's runners-up, the Philipos, etched their name in history in 2016, when they triumphed over the Fridge Magnets in a captivating final. However, the team's line-up has undergone some changes since then. Two of their long-standing members, Frank Loakman and Philip Sweeney, have departed the team - Loakman last featured in 2022, while Sweeney bid farewell after the 2019 season. Despite the latter departure, the team continues to proudly bear the Philipos moniker, preserving their rich heritage in the competition. Heading into the 2025 campaign the side remains unchanged, with the same quartet appearing for the third consecutive season. Double Dublin Inter Matchplay winner David Lee leads the way, having been a stalwart of the side for a decade. Despite having a quiet year, which resulted in him gaining a shot back, he'll be a player nobody will want to meet. Just like David, Dublin Ladies Intermediate Inter County player and reigning Dublin Inter Matchplay champion Sandra Keogh has been with the Philipos for more than a decade, during which time she claimed the 2016 Leinster and 2023 Dublin Inter Ladies Strokeplay championships. Next up is 2021 President's Prize winner Fergal Power, who got back to winning ways last season after a couple of barren years. The final member of the team is Tess Donovan, who missed last year's final, and with it, the chance to add to her previous Winter League victory in 2011. With the 2022 and 2023 Ladies Remembrance winner back for her third campaign, the Philipos look formidable. With last season marking the first time the Philipos got further than the quarter-final stage since their 2016 Winter League triumph, the Philipos are clear-LEE a team who'll once again be looking to pass the Winter League TESS-t, as they attempt to KEOGH all the way to the final and POWER their way to victory!


Group C prediction:
Group C is incredibly well balanced and contains three experienced sides along with one new team. I think the Heffos may find this group a little too tough, despite having a very healthy handicap, especially with two debutants on the team. With ten Winter League winners medals between them, Alarmed and Dangerous look to have one of the strongest teams in this year's event and they will be one of the favourites not only to reach the knockout stages, but also to win the event outright. While on paper the Barbarians look to be pretty much flawless, results speak for themselves and for whatever reason they haven't delivered in recent times, which is why I think last year's beaten finalists Philipos will be the other team to qualify from Group C.
Going through: Alarmed and Dangerous & Philipos. Going out: Barbarians & Heffos.