Killala Boat and Shore Club hosted this year’s Connaught Open Shore Gold Medal match, with a great report below despite tough fishing.

On the 29th March Killala B&S held the Connaught Open Gold Medal Shore at Lacken Strand, Co Mayo.
Due to weather and beach conditions a decision was made to change the venue from Enniscrone to Lacken Strand. 18 anglers travelled from around the country for the day.
A 5 hour match was ahead of them, with just over an hour on the drop and the rest on the incoming tide.
Expectedly so, only a few fish were caught before the low water mark, one in each of the two zones. As the tides changed fishing got quiet until the third hour. Turbot and flounder began to show evenly across the beach with Billy Gilvarry, on a centre peg, and with Fionn O’Higgins and Sammy Sterling both on the end pegs. Tensions were high with all knowing that there was only a fish was needed to be in the lead and with the added bonus of the optional longest pool at stake.
The late comer to the match, Eoin Gilvarry, got in the mix with a decent flounder. Seeing a fish being landed gave the anglers some well needed motivation to get back at the fish with only two hours left. Colin Reilly from Lough Foyle Sea Angling Club landed a fine Turbot which would put him in front, although with a lead of only a few centimetres. Fionn O’Higgins from Galway Bay complimented his earlier Turbot with another fish, and on the very next cast landed a decent flounder.
Sammy Sterling from White Wave Sea Angling Club fought back with a second fish to put him in the lead of zone A and local Shane Gilvarry also made his day worthwhile with a turbot.
Connaught Open Shore Gold Medal final results!
🏆1st overall – Fionn O’Higgins (Galway Bay S.A.C) – 3 fish (70 points)
🥇1st Zone A – Sammy Sterling (White Wave S.A.C) – 2 fish (50 points)
🥈2nd Zone A – Billy Gilvarry (Killala Boat & Shore) – 1 fish (27 points)
🥇1st Zone B – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C) – 1 fish (31 points)
🥈2nd Zone B – Shane Gilvarry (Corrane S.A.C) – 1 fish (25 points)
📏Longest fish – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C) – 26cm Turbot
Connaught Council would like to thank all at Killala boat & shore angling club for organising this years Open Shore Gold Medal, a great job was done. We also thank all anglers who travelled from near and far who took part in this years competition.
We look forward to seeing you all again soon.