Murray close to breakthrough

Limerick's Pat Murray is within touching distance of his first amateur major after cruising in the semi-finals of the Irish Amateur Close Championship at Enniscrone.

Pat MurrayThe 37 year old Tipperary man beat Lahinch's Stephen Loftus by one hole in a tight third round clash before seeing off the experienced Banrbidge man Rory Leonard 3 and 2 in the quarter finals.

Four up after 14 holes, Murray lost the 15th but closed out the match at the par-five 16th when he chipped in for a birdie four to set up a semi-final meeting with Newlands' Andrew Hogan.

Newlands could have its first Irish Close champion since Peter Lawrie in 1996 after Cian Curley joined Hogan in the last four.

Both men won on the 19th.

Curley beat Knock's Michael Sinclair at the 19th when the Ulsterman drove out of bounds while Hogan - the last of the 64 qualifiers after rounds of 86 and 78 - got through when County Sligo's Gary McDermott took three putts from the edge of the green.

Curley will face Moyola Park's Paul O'Kane on Wednesday morning following the Ulsterman'sone hole victory over Athlone's Kelan McDonagh, who knocked Paul Cutler out in the third round.

Semi Finals- Wednesday, 10th June

8.30am: Cian Curley (Newlands) v Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park)
8.45am: Andrew Hogan (Newlands) v Pat Murray (Limerick)

Quarter Finals- Tuesday, 9th June

Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Michael Sinclair (Knock) at 19th
Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park) bt Kelan McDonagh (Athlone) 1 hole
Andrew Hogan (Newlands) bt Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo) 19th
Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Rory Leonard (Banbridge) 3/2

Third Round - Tuesday, 9th June

Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Eddie McCormack (Galway) 5/4
Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt James Monaghan (The Island)3/2
Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park) bt Paul Dunne (Greystones) 3/2
Kelan McDonagh (Athlone) bt Paul Cutler (Portstewart) 3/2
Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo) bt Aaron O’Callaghan (Douglas) at 20th
Andrew Hogan (Newlands) bt Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 8/7
Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Stephen Loftus (Lahinch) 1 hole
Rory Leonard (Banbridge) bt Craig Martin (Kilkenny) at 20th