Foregone conclusion

This phrase is commonly used in Sporting circles where there is no doubt about the final outcome of an event before it has even taken place.

There are some very rare occasions where the professed ‘conclusion’ doesn’t work out according to plan, one occasion was in Japan (Feb 1990) when Mike Tyson predicted his knock-out of Buster Douglas.

Even more famously, the memorable phrase was announced in Carnoustie during the Bus Pushers 2015 tour when Casey (3rd Runner-up on the Wicklow Hurling team of the Millennium) was heard to declare that the next day’s team event was going to be won by the Greenkeepers and the result was a foregone conclusion.

Despite the reasonable start with a 6 pointer on the first hole, Casey’s previous days confidence soon evaporated with a couple of 3 pointers and an even more impressive 2 pointer on the 5th hole. By the time they got to the turn his embarrassed teammates were hoping that the opposition would decide not to play the back-nine so that the ill-advised declaration may still have a chance of coming true.

Alas it was not to be, the greenkeepers final score was a full 11 points behind the winners total of 86 points. No-one can be bothered to remember who actually won that day but the resounding chorus of Foregone conclusion was heard being chanted from the winners room until 9pm when Tony went to bed.

The tale of the golfing foregone conclusion is still being discussed in Scottish golf clubs to the present day.

Frank: How are you feeling about tomorrow’s team event Richie?

Richie: Not too sure Frank, had a few electrical faults on Trump Aberdeen today and only scored 17 pts, luckily for me Willie was on fire and carried us to victory, what about you Smithy?

Smithy: Ah Richie lad, calm down us Raharney lads are born winners, didn’t we win the Westmeath U-21, Junor & Senior hurling titles in 1984, the rest of those lads won’t know what hit them, what do you think Casey?

Casey; It’s a foregone conclusion lads!

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