Today, at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains, Marlay Park Pétanque Club hosted the National Interclub Championship, the final IPA competition of the year. This much-anticipated event wrapped up the season with a day of great games, camaraderie, sunshine and competitive spirit.

Clubs travelled from far and wide, with teams representing Ormeau, Cavan, Waterford, Clashmore, Cabinteely, Bayside, Marlay, Griffeen, and Seapoint. Unfortunately, illness kept a few Seapoint and Marlay players away, but in true pétanque fashion, the two clubs came together to form a joint team, keeping the format alive and competitive.

The tournament followed an eight-team round-robin format, with matches alternating between doubles and triples, with the odd singles thrown in,  giving players plenty of variety and tactical challenges throughout the day.

In the end, it was the West Waterford club of Clashmore/Kinsalebeg who made their long journey truly worthwhile, clinching 1st place with impressive consistency and skill. Cavan battled their way to a well-deserved 2nd place, while Cabinteely rounded out the podium, taking home the bronze.

A huge thanks goes to Marlay Park Pétanque Club for hosting today’s championship, and a special shout-out to Owen Kelleher and Dawn Kirk, whose hard work and organisation ensured the event ran seamlessly.

As for Clashmore, there’s no doubt they’ll be raising a few well-earned pints tonight as they return home to celebrate a fantastic victory!