Bantry ace Mel picked for Ireland

MEL Deasy is already well used to having his name in the headlines – and here we go again.

The talented young Bantry Bay golfer, only turned 15 years old in January, has been selected on the Golfing Union of Ireland team for the U16 Quadrangular (Four Nations) tournament in the Netherlands.

Deasy (pictured) has been picked to represent Ireland in the three-match series against Scotland, Wales and the Netherlands at Golfclub De Hoge Kleij from from April 10th to 12th. 

It’s the latest in a long list of sporting achievements for the teenager, who is a Junior Cert student at Presentation Brothers College in Cork City.

Mel’s father, Tim, is from Bantry, and the family (who live in Ovens) spend their summers in West Cork, and that’s how Mel linked up with the local club, Bantry Bay Golf Club.

Playing golf since he was old enough to walk, Mel has been involved with Munster at U14 interpro level the past two years before he was called up to the Irish U16 development panel last September – and that opened the door to his latest international call-up. Mel did play for Ireland at U14 level previously.

Last November, he was crowned Ulster U14 open champion after shooting a two under par 70 at the Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club in Belfast.

Away from the fairways and greens, Mel has also played in the Kennedy Cup soccer tournament with the Cork Schoolboys League, plays rugby with his school, and has All-Ireland medals in the long jump and sprinting. 

These weeks, golf has all his attention ahead of the Four Nations tournament in the Netherlands.

As well as Deasy, the six-player Irish panel includes Irish U14 champion Edward Rowe (Tandragee), Joseph Byrne (Baltinglass), Joshua Hill (Galgorm Castle), Eoin McGrath (Athlone) and Josh Black (Hilton Templepatrick) who was on last year’s winning side in Wales.