The reigning 4Ball Matchplay Champions are out, in an entralling match in Royal Dublin, that had all pars and six birdies and a winning putt on the 18th green saw Louis O’Carroll & Sean McKeon take out last year’s Champions Tony Casey & Jim Stanley.

Derek Mooney & Barry Murray brought John Brady & Sean Furlong out to Malahide for what was a close match which ended with John & Sean sneaking the match on the 17th.

The wonderful links at Portmarnock Golf Club was the venue for this first round match between Sean Guirke & Myki Heather and RD duo Grellan Murray & Tadgh O’Meara. A very friendly close match was all square on the 9th (our 18th), all drives away down the fairway, Grellan had 206 yards to the pin and pulled his favourite 3-iron and crunched it to within 10 feet for the winning birdie. What a player, go Grellan go, you the man.

It took a birdie in Royal Dublin on the 19th by Conor Gallagher & Ed Cronnelly to take out Philip McGowan & Michael Brennan in another very close match.

St Annes pairings of Michael Sludds & Eamon Fay and Andy Flynn & Philip O’Donoghue defeated RD pairings of Conor Dalglish & Mick Slein and Ray McGovern & Peter Finnegan respectively, both match were played in RD.

Home advantage for Sutton’s Brian Cole & Colm Menton was enough to take care of Damien Murran & Dominic Murray.

Mick Kenny & Joe O’Flaherty had to withdraw due to injury to allow Michael Norton & Stephen Tucker into the next round.