South of Ireland — Race to the semis

Pat Murray birdies the 17th to end the title defence of Shandon Park's Stuart Bleakley

Pat Murray kept his dream of second South of Ireland and a third amateur major alive when he came back from two down after 12 to oust defending champion Stuart Bleakley in the third round at Lahinch.

The 44-year old Limerick based Tipperary man won three holes on the spin to go one up and then close out a 2 and 1 victory with a birdie from 11 feet at the 17th.

The 2012 champion faces surprise package Keith Egan from Carton House, the man who eliminated Rowan Lester in extra holes on Friday, after the Dubliner shocked leading qualifier Paul McBride 2 and 1 in his third round match.

Laytown and Bettystown's Cian Geraghty continued his superb run of form with a 3 and 2 win over the fancied Waterford man Eanna Griffin.

Some super golf so far from @ciangeraghty @LahinchGolfClub Driving here on 15. pic.twitter.com/7yY09sOrJs
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Griffin lost the 11th when Geraghty's pitch hit the pin and stopped dead. He then lost the next two holes to find himself in a hole and couldn't get out.

Geraghty now takes on Knock's Colin Fairweather, a beaten semi-finalists at the hands of Stephen Healy in 2012. The big hitting Ulsterman was in superb form again, beating Bray's John Conroy 4 and 3.

In the bottom half of the draw, Tullamore's Stuart Grehan was too strong from New Forest's Dessie Morgan, winning 3 and 2.

Grehan, who had to come back from two down with two to go to beat his pal Alan Lowry at the 20th on Friday evening, now takes on Rosslare's Gary Collins.

On 15, fine shot by @Tmclarnon15 but Jeff Hopkins hits a better one. @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/a3JtUqGHJI
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

Gunning for something positive from the season after losing to John Ross Galbraith in the final of the North, Collins has been quietly impressive this week.

He was well into the red when beat Jack "SB" Pierse by one hole in the second round and he went even deeper against Cork's Gary O'Flaherty in today's third round, winning 4 and 3.

"I got the putter going today, which is crucial around here," Collins said.

The winner of Grehan-Collins will take on Limericks' Mark MacGrath or the Royal Dublin's Jeff Hopkins in tomorrow morning's semi-finals.

Hopkins, a tall and talented former footballer with a big game, was impessive as he beat and out of sort Tiarnan McLarnon 4 and 3.

No luck for @NiallGorey_ but he out drives this Hiace van on 17. #speedfreak @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/EvgOG7N6Qi
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

As for MacGrath, he raced into a two up lead at the turn against Palmerstown Stud's Niall Gorey and despite having his lead reduced to one up with six to go, he took the 15th in par as Gorey missed a short putt and closed out the match at the 17th where the Kildare man missed the green and failed to save par from a tough position.

Finally, here's Mark MacGrath. He's off to college in New Mexico we hear. Andale. @LahinchGolfClub pic.twitter.com/EfopFHBeDi
— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) July 25, 2015

South of Ireland 2015

LAHINCH GOLF CLUB (PAR 72)

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QUARTER-FINALS - SATURDAY 25 JULY

(1.30) Pat Murray (Limerick) v Keith Egan (Carton House)
(1.45) Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) v Colin Fairweather (Knock)
(2.00) Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) v Gary Collins (Rosslare)
(2.15) Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) v Mark MacGrath (Limerick)

THIRD ROUND - SATURDAY 25 JULY

Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) 2/1
Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Paul McBride (The Island) 2/1
Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 3/2
Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt John Conroy (Bray) 4/3
Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Des Morgan (New Forest) 3/2
Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) 5/3
Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) 4/3
Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud).2/1

SECOND ROUND - FRIDAY 24 JULY

Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) 2/1
Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) 3/1
Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Rowan Lester (Hermitage) 20th
Paul McBride (The Island) bt William Hanna (Warrenpoint) 4/3
Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Stephen Barker (Mourne) 20th
Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Paul McCarthy (Mallow) 5/4
John Conroy (Bray) bt Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 1 hole
Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Gary McDermott (Carton House) 6/4
Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 20th
Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) 5/4
Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 19th
Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 1 hole
Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Joe Lyons (Galway) 6/5
Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) 1 up
Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 2/1
Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Conor Coyne (Youghal) 1 hole.

FIRST ROUND - FRIDAY 24 JULY

Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park) bt Marc Nolan (Delgany) 3/.2
Shaun Carter (Royal Dublin) bt Thomas O'Connor (Athlone) 3/2
Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle) bt Eddie Power (Kilkenny) 1 hole
Pat Murray (Limerick) bt Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle) 1 hole
Rowan Lester (Hermitage) bt Stephen Healy (Carton House) 4/3
Keith Egan (Carton House) bt Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo) 5/4
William Hanna (Warrenpoint) bt Daniel Holland (Castle) 5/4
Paul McBride (The Island) bt Shane Whooley (Muskerry) 1 hole
Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) bt Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire) 2/1
Stephen Barker (Mourne) bt Barry Anderson (Royal Dublin) 1 hole
Eanna Griffin (Waterford) bt Rob Brazill (Naas) 6/4
Paul McCarthy (Mallow) bt Declan King (Tramore) 4/3
Liam Grehan (Mullingar) bt Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley) 5/4
John Conroy (Bray) bt Thomas Neenan (Lahinch) 1 hole
Gary McDermott (Carton House) bt Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 2/1
Colin Fairweather (Knock) bt Dan Murphy (Portarlington) 19th
Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) bt Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 5/4
Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) 2/1
Des Morgan (New Forest) bt Tony O'Leary (Wexford) 4/2
Robert Cannon (Balbriggan) bt Adam Doran (Ardee) 2 holes
Daniel Brennan (Shannon) bt Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West) 2 holes
Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) bt Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 1 hole
Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) bt Ed Stack (Ballybunion) 5/4
Gary Collins (Rosslare) bt Barry Daly (Edmondstown) 4/3
Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene) bt Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 4/3
Joe Lyons (Galway) bt Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 2 holes
Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth) bt Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 4/3
Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) bt Ally Purdy (Ballyclare) 5/3
Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) bt Michael O'Kelly (Limerick) 20th
Mark MacGrath (Limerick) bt Sean Walsh (Carton House) 6/5
Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) bt Simon Bryan (Delgany) 2/1
Conor Coyne (Youghal) bt Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint) 3/2.

36-HOLE STROKEPLAY QUALIFYING, 22-23 JULY

QUALIFIERS

140 Paul McBride (Island) 72 68 (Leading qualifier), Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown) 70 70

142 Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 74 68, Colin Fairweather (Knock) 74 68, Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin) 72 70

144 Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club) 71 73

145 Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club) 74 71, Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club) 73 72, Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club) 72 73, Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club) 71 74

146 Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 70

147 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club) 77 70, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 74 73, Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 74 73, Des Morgan (New Forest) 70 77

148 Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club) 79 69, Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club) 77 71, Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club) 76 72, Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club) 75 73, Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club) 73 75, Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 72 76, Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin) 71 77

149 Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club) 78 71, Stephen Barker (Mourne) 77 72, Jack Pierse (Portmarnock) 77 72, Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club) 75 74, Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin) 75 74, Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club) 74 75, William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 73 76

150 Daniel Holland (Castle) 81 69, Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud) 80 70, Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club) 79 71, Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin) 79 71, Alan Lowry (Esker Hills) 79 71, Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club) 78 72, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 78 72, Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 72, Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 76 74, Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club) 76 74, Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club) 75 75, Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin) 75 75, Eanna Griffin (Waterford) 74 76

151 John Conroy (Bray) 79 72, Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club) 77 74, Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club) 77 74, Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club) 75 76, Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 74 77, Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club) 74 77

152 Adam Doran (Ardee) 82 70, Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club) 81 71, Declan King (Tramore Golf Club) 79 73, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 78 74, Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club) 77 75, Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club) 77 75, Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club) 76 76, Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club) 75 77, Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club) 75 77, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 74 78, Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club) 73 79

153 Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 81 72, Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club) 80 73, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 78 75, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club) 78 75, Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club) 77 76,

NON-QUALIFIERS

153 Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club) 76 77

154 Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 72, Peter Kane (Ashbourne) 80 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 80 74, Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club) 78 76, Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club) 78 76, Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club) 78 76, David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club) 77 77, Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club) 77 77, Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle) 77 77, Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club) 76 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 76 78, Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club) 74 80

155 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray) 82 73, Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 81 74, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 81 74, James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club) 80 75, Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club) 80 75, Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club) 80 75, Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club) 79 76, Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin) 78 77, Ben Corfee (USA) 78 77

156 Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club) 81 75, Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club) 81 75, Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club) 80 76, Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club) 79 77, Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club) 78 78, Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club) 78 78, John Greene (Portmarnock) 77 79, Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club) 77 79, Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club) 77 79, Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 75 81

157 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club) 84 73, Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club) 82 75, Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club) 80 77, Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club) 79 78, John Hickey (Cork Golf Club) 78 79, Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club) 77 80, Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club) 75 82

158 Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 77, Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club) 81 77, Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club) 81 77, James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin) 79 79, Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club) 77 81, Robbie Pierse (Grange) 77 81

159 Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club) 85 74, Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 84 75, Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club) 82 77, Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club) 82 77, Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin) 80 79, Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club) 79 80, Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club) 78 81, Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club) 77 82

160 Paul Behan (St. Anne's) 83 77, Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club) 83 77, Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club) 82 78, David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club) 80 80, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 81

161 Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) 84 77, John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club) 83 78, Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club) 82 79, Jamie O'Shea (Shannon) 79 82, Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club) 79 82

162 Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club) 81 81

163 Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club) 82 81

164 Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club) 85 79, Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club) 85 79, Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club) 84 80, David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club) 82 82, Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club) 82 82, Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club) 82 82

165 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club) 86 79, Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club) 82 83

166 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club) 88 78, Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club) 85 81, Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club) 83 83, Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club) 83 83

167 Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club) 83 84, Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club) 79 88

168 Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club) 88 80

169 Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club) 82 87

172 Paul O'Neill (Shannon) 87 85

177 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club) 95 82

180 John Richard (FRANCE) 93 87

NR Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club) 83 NR

ROUND ONE

70 Cian Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown), Des Morgan (New Forest)

71 Shaun Carter (The Royal Dublin), Andrew McCormack (Newcastle West Golf Club), Keith Egan (Carton House Golf Club)

72 Tiarnan McLarnon (Massereene Golf Club), Eddie Power (Kilkenny Golf Club), Paul McBride (Island), Jeff Hopkins (The Royal Dublin)

73 Robert Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club), Mark Morrissey (Mount Wolseley Golf Club), William Hanna (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Barry Daly (Edmondstown Golf Club)

74 Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club), Paul McCarthy (Mallow Golf Club), Simon Bryan (Delgany Golf Club), Michael O'Kelly (Limerick Golf Club), Robert Farrell (New Ross Golf Club), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Steffan O'Hara (Co. Sligo Golf Club), Eanna Griffin (Waterford), Colm Campbell Jnr (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock)

75 Sean Ryan (The Royal Dublin), Stuart Bleakley (Shandon Park Golf Club), Mark Mullen (Rosslare Golf Club), Declan McInerney (Lahinch Golf Club), Pat Murray (Limerick Golf Club), Stephen Healy (Carton House Golf Club), Gerard Dunne (Co. Louth Golf Club), Richard Knightly (The Royal Dublin), Michael Buggy (Castlecomer Golf Club), Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club)

76 Thomas O'Connor (Athlone Golf Club), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Marc Nolan (Delgany Golf Club), Gary Collins (Rosslare Golf Club), Michael Reid (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Gary O'Flaherty (Cork Golf Club), Paul Murphy (Rosslare Golf Club), Justin Kehoe (Limerick Golf Club)

77 Sean Walsh (Carton House Golf Club), Owen O'Brien (Limerick Golf Club), Ally Purdy (Ballyclare Golf Club), David Finn (Doneraile Golf Club), Tony O'Leary (Wexford Golf Club), Rob Brazill (Naas Golf Club), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore Golf Club), Shane Whooley (Muskerry Golf Club), Ian Spillane (Mallow Golf Club), Jamie Sutherland (Galgorm Castle Golf Club), Greg Mungovan (Headfort Golf Club), Jonathan Breen (Kirkistown Castle Golf Club), Robbie Pierse (Grange), Mark Timmins (Coollattin Golf Club), Stephen Barker (Mourne), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park Golf Club), Jack Pierse (Portmarnock), John Greene (Portmarnock), Darragh Hogan (Killeen Castle)

78 Ed Stack (Ballybunion Golf Club), Eoghan Long (Monkstown Golf Club), Tommy O'Driscoll (Killarney Golf Club), Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Gary McGrane (The Royal Dublin), Joe Lyons (Galway Golf Club), Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud), Eoin O'Connor (Ballybunion Golf Club), Stephen Watts (Cairndhu Golf Club), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), John Hickey (Cork Golf Club), Rowan Lester (Hermitage Golf Club), Michael Reddan (Limerick Golf Club), Ben Corfee (USA), Colm Crowley (Woodbrook Golf Club), Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club)

79 Richard Bridges (Stackstown Golf Club), Tristan O'Rourke (Nenagh Golf Club), Jamie O'Shea (Shannon), Barry Anderson (The Royal Dublin), Nicky Duggan (Dromoland Golf Club), Graham Nugent (Kilkenny Golf Club), Alan Lowry (Esker Hills), John Conroy (Bray), Declan King (Tramore Golf Club), Gary McDermott (Carton House Golf Club), Thomas Neenan (Lahinch Golf Club), James Monaghan (The Royal Dublin), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Gavin Smyth (Clonmel Golf Club), Seamus Cullen (Slieve Russell Golf Club)

80 Jack Walsh (Castle), Liam Hutchinson (The Royal Dublin), Dan Murphy (Portarlington Golf Club), Alan Purcell (Adare Manor Golf Club), Niall Gorey (Palmerstown Stud), Shane McGlynn (Carton House Golf Club), James Sugrue (Mallow Golf Club), Peter Kane (Ashbourne), Ryan O'Doherty (Enniscrone Golf Club), Tony Cleary (Woodstock Golf Club), David Reddan (Nenagh Golf Club)

81 Matthew McClean (Balmoral Golf Club), Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion Golf Club), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), Karl Purcell (Dun Laoghaire Golf Club), Sean Alley (Co. Tipperary Golf Club), Paul Buckley (Kanturk Golf Club), Liam Grehan (Mullingar Golf Club), Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club), Daniel Holland (Castle), Pat Fitzpatrick (Kanturk Golf Club), Conor O'Rourke (Naas Golf Club)

82 Paul O'Sullivan (Bray), Philip Spratt (West Waterford Golf Club), Mathew Kane (Whitehead Golf Club), Eoghan O' Loughlin (Spanish Point Golf Club), Keith Murphy (Charlesland Golf Club), David McMahon (Tralee Golf Club), Jason O'Leary (Dromoland Golf Club), Dale Jackson (Massereene Golf Club), Shane Hogan (Nenagh Golf Club), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Ryan Long (Cairndhu Golf Club), Adam Doran (Ardee), Sean Doyle (Athlone Golf Club), Daniel Hallissey (Muskerry Golf Club)

83 Sean Poucher (Limerick Golf Club), Aaron Moore (Adare Manor Golf Club), Peter Meaney (Cahir Park Golf Club), Karl McCormack (Portarlington Golf Club), Ruairi O'Connor (Co. Sligo Golf Club), John Reynolds (Dungarvan Golf Club), Paul Behan (St. Anne's)

84 Jamie Fletcher (Warrenpoint Golf Club), Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Gavin McKenna (Fortwilliam Golf Club)

85 Dean McMahon (Castletroy Golf Club), Ronan O'Grady (Tullamore Golf Club), Scott Campbell (Ballyclare Golf Club), Keith Daniels (Loughrea Golf Club), Kelan McDonagh (The Royal Dublin)

86 Tom Griffin (Crews Hill Golf Club)

87 Paul O'Neill (Shannon)

88 Bob Loftus (Lahinch Golf Club), Brian Gilligan (Woodstock Golf Club)

93 John Richard (FRANCE)

95 Ronan Mullane (Dromoland Golf Club)

Brian Keogh