The Darren Clarke Schools League has proudly announced it has raised over £70,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and thanks to St Malachy’s Belfast School.

St.Malachy’s clinched the title on Friday after a great battle, played in terrific spirit, against Holy Cross Strabane school.

The winning St. Malachy’s School. (Photo – www.darrenclarke.com)

The weather in Belfast in the early morning suggested that the match might not even take place but conditions in Castledawson were actually quite good. A blustery wind and a few showers didn’t spoil the day and Moyola was in terrific condition.

The majority of games were well matched in terms of handicaps.

St.Malachy’s got off to a quick start in most of the matches but the Holy Cross team showed great resolve and refused to make things easy.

Ryan Straney (6) was 1 down through 8 in the top match but won 4 on the spin around the turn and powered to a 5&4 victory.

Hugh O’Hare (11) quickly followed suit with a 5&4 victory, his short game rescuing him on a number of occasions. Jude Maskey (13) was 3 up through 13 but the Holy Cross pupil showed great spirit to level the affair after 16 and they matched each other to halve the match.

Momentum was on the Belfast school’s side and Conor Kelly (16) won 3&2 despite his plucky opponent winning the 15th after the shot of the day, a flop shot over trees from 80 yards to 2 feet, resulting in a birdie.

Ruairi Donaghy (18) and Peter O’Donnell (18) both won 4&3, only getting pulling in the back 9. Garrett McIlroy (14) and his opponent went all the way down 18 and, with everything falling into place, Garrett managed to win the last to win 1up.

* Thanks to www.darrenclarke.com