Magee helps fire Ireland to Four Nations crown

TIARNAN Magee picked up the first international title of his footgolf career when he helped Ireland to Four Nations success in Killarney.

The team in green, which included the top men’s players from across the country, ladies, juniors and masters, came through the group section in second place behind Scotland, after beating Wales and England, before tackling their Celtic cousins in the decider.

Unsurprisingly, the final went right down to the wire with penalty putts required, and it was the Irish who held their nerve in the end to claim victory, much to the Dungannon man’s delight.

“It’s one thing competing at the World Cup or the Euros where we’d get tanked most of the time – so this was something different to go on and actually win something!” beamed Magee, who has enjoyed a season to remember, finishing third in the overall Irish rankings, with three podium event finishes included.”

He continued,“I’ve made a big improvement from the last couple of years when I’ve always been hovering in-and-around eighth or ninth overall, so it marks a significant improvement and a confidence builder as well.”

Magee had a perfect record going into the showpiece, having been victorious against Wales, England and Scotland in the group matches, defeating Adam Harvey Davies, David Stewart and Ian Cox – but he fell to his only defeat of the competition in the final, to Scotland’s Neil Shave, so he was relieved to see his team-mates triumph on penalties.

“I got three wins; I won all my games in the group, so that’s all I could really do,” he added.

“But I was disappointed because I felt bad for not getting my point in the final against Scotland. I was on a 100 per-cent record, and I would have liked to have kept that but it finished 2&1. I started well, and was two up, but I found myself three down going into the back nine!

“Against David Stewart in the group match, I was four down on the back nine, and brought it back to win, but I couldn’t do it in the final. I did get it back to one down, and I thought I could have caught him but I ran out of holes.”

In the group matches, Ireland comfortably beat Wales 13-5 in their opener, before tackling Scotland for the first time that weekend. On this occasion, the Scots prevailed 10.5-7.5 in an encounter that could have gone either way, and the Irish bounced back to defeat England 10-8 to qualify for the final, which finished 9-9 to force penalty putts.

“We knew Scotland were good, and knowing how close the group game was, we knew we could take them in the final,” Magee continued.

This coming year, Tiarnan will be attempting to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in Orlando, Florida, which will mean travelling the length-and -breadth of the country, to attend qualifying events.

If anyone wants any more information about how to get into footgolf, and if any companies would like to avail of national and international advertising through jersey sponsorship and social media advertising, you can contact Tiarnan directly at tmageefootgolf@outlook.com.