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Winter League preview - Day 5 - Group D

Posted on 10 Jan '25 by Dave Hayden II

GROUP D
Behold, the esteemed denizens of Group D, the epitome of efficiency in the Winter Leagues! While their counterparts rise with the sun, these savvy individuals bask in the luxuries of a well-deserved slumber. And what awaits them, you ask? None other than their very own pristine putting greens, freshly trampled by the footsteps of their peers. Ah, the spoils of divots and a dusting of despair greet them as they commence their game. Yet, take solace, for these masters of the greens wear their bed-head like a crown, a testament to their unparalleled prowess on the course.




Celts: (Paul Dillon -4, Michael Donnelly -7, Gordon Parker -16 & Grainne Delahunt -21; combined handicap: -48)
The Celts are the fourth and final debutant team in the 2025 Winter Leagues. The clan combines an odd mix of experience with naivety, which should make for interesting viewing. First up is 2013 Dublin Gents Junior Strokeplay champion, the mythical Paul Dillon, who hasn't appeared in the Winter Leagues since the 2016 final. On that occasion, Paul appeared as a sub for Philip Sweeney, as the Philipos went on to secure the Winter League title. Paul is joined by the player who won the other Dublin Junior Championship in 2013, Matchplay winner Michael Donnelly, who makes his Winter League debut this year. Having been away for the past seven years, Mick made a welcome return to the club in 2024. The third member of the team is Grainne Delahunt, who returns to Winter League action having made her debut last season as part of the Dan Dans. The final member of the team has the distinction of being the elder statesman of this year's competition, Gordon Parker. Having filled in as a substitute on a number of occasions last season, Gordon makes his full debut this time around. With a good mix of youth and experience, not to mention two former Dublin Junior champions, the Celts are a team which could prove to be imperious warriors or maybe they'll simply be the defeated ones.



Paddy's Pirates: (Paddy Croke -5, Paddy Blake -8, Kathleen Croke -8 & Trish Anderson -15; combined handicap: -36)
Matthew 20:16 tells us "the last will be first, and the first will be last", which is very true when it comes to Paddy's Pirates. Having claimed the Winter League booty with a swashbuckling performance in 2023, their defence of the title was a complete shipwreck, with the Pirates walking the plank after finishing bottom of their group. Now setting sail for their eighth expedition, the crew remains unchanged from last year's campaign and is headed by Captain Paddy Croke. Two-time Winter League winner (2004 & 2023) Paddy, also hoisted the Dublin Inter Gents Matchplay trophy aloft in 1999 and his "never say die" attitude is just what the team needs to navigate through troubled waters. The team's First Mate Paddy Blake is also a two-time Winter League winner, having previously claimed victory with Blake's 4 in 2006, before jumping ship to Paddy's Pirates in 2017. They are joined by ship's Quartermaster Kathleen Croke, the 2009 and 2019 Leinster Inter Ladies Strokeplay champion. Kathleen completes a trio of team members who have looted the Winter League title with two different teams, having triumphed with the Golden Oldies in 2013. The final marauder is ship's Gunner Trish Anderson, the 2017 Leinster Junior Ladies Strokeplay winner makes her seventh appearance for the team, having featured every year barring their title winning 2023 season. After such a disappointing result in 2024, which demonstrated just how cutthroat this league can be, it's difficult to predict if this band of scallywags can turn the tide. Will they get to fly the skull and crossbones of the Jolly Roger with pride once more or will they get that sinking feeling all over again… yer guess be as good as mine, matey!!




Rhinos: (Noel Ryan -5, Seamus Harpur -9, Michael O'Gorman -10 & Evelyn O'Gorman -13; combined handicap: -37)
The Rhinos embarked on their Winter League journey in 2015, initially donning the mantle of Coogan's Bluff (the first incarnation). Defying all expectations, they clinched the coveted Winter League title in their inaugural season, a remarkable feat. Over the ensuing six years, the team remained unaltered, apart from in 2018, when the injured Noel Ryan had to step aside. Christy Kane stepped up to the plate, and the team adopted the moniker Christy's Gang. However, the return of Noel to the herd in 2019 prompted another name change, and the iconic Rhinos name was born. Two of the team's original members, Barbara Coogan and Christopher Byrne, have long since moved on and recent years have seen Gary Ryan and Mick Morris come and go. However, for the first time since 2020 the Rhinos name an unchanged side, led by the aforementioned Noel Ryan, who is a regular fixture in the Lucan winners enclosure. Noel is joined by 2015 Dublin Ladies Inter Strokeplay winner, Evelyn O'Gorman, who is an endangered species, being the only ever-present member of the team, having appeared every year since 2015. Evelyn is joined by husband Michael O'Gorman, who is a two time Winter League winner, having lifted the title in 2000 and again in 2002. The final pachyderm is 2023 Gents Class 3 Club Strokeplay winner Seamus Harpur, who is making is second appearance for the Rhinos, having debuted in the Winter League in 2022 with Flynn's Fliers. Having locked horns with the biggest teams and emerging victorious in their debut season, it's almost unimaginable that in the decade that followed, they would only progress beyond the group stage on a single occasion. Are the Rhinos a team who have been well and truly put out to pasture or have they got what it takes to make another charge at the title?




Tractormen: (Philo Condron -4, Dave Hayden II -6, Christian O'Reilly -7 & Jay Condron -10; combined handicap: -27)
Last season's surprise package return for the 2025 season, with the Tractormen having cultivated the Winter League title last time around. The team's engine will remain unaltered with all four players who faced the Philipos in last season's final ready to plough on once more. It's the first time since 2016, when they were known as the Fridge Magnets, that there hasn't been any change to the line-up. The Tractormen's matriarch is four-time Dublin champion, two-time Leinster champion and all-around Lucan legend Philo Condron, who will be keen to reap another Winter League title. Philo is joined on the team for the fifth time by 2008 Dublin Inter Strokeplay, 2010 Leinster Inter Strokeplay and 2018 Dublin Inter Matchplay winner Dave Hayden II, who enjoyed a very successful 2024 season, in which he yielded the Remembrance Competition. They are joined by Dublin Junior Inter-County player Christian O'Reilly, who is the only player in the field to have won every Winter League they entered! Christian, who is the youngest player in the field by thirteen years, was one of last year's standout performers. However, having seen his handicap reduced by two shots, he may find things a little trickier this time around. The final member of the team is 2017 Dublin Junior Gents Matchplay winner Jay Condron, who secured the winning points in last year's final, despite some rather agricultural play! While they surprised many en route to winning the Winter League title last year, they will know they will need to find top gear once again to have any chance this time around. The previous three Winter League winners all failed to get out of their group the following year, so it remains to be seen whether the Tractormen will run into some hitches or if they'll harvest another victory.


Group D prediction:
With three former winners in this section, Group D is far from easy to predict. The Celts are something of an unknown quantity, while they have two former Dublin Junior champions on their side, it isn't 2013 anymore and it's difficult to know just how rusty the pair will be. Paddy's Pirates really struggled to find their sea legs last year and based on that alone, I'll lean towards them being the other team to miss out. The Rhinos and the Tractormen look like they may just be the two strongest sides in the group, but with such narrow margins between the teams, they're just as likely to be the two to exit!
Going through: Rhinos & Tractormen. Going out: Celts & Paddy's Pirates.