Golfer Séamus enjoys great run in ‘West’

April 1994

Greenore golfer Séamus McParland bounces back from losing his place on the Leinster squad, and gives the perfect answer to the provincial selectors, by reaching the semi-finals of the West of Ireland.

He succumbs on the last green to Walker Cup player and eventual winner Pádraig Harrington.

Playing perhaps the best golf of his career, Séamus (40), who works with Dundalk company Eastern Electric, shrugs aside horrific conditions to raise hopes that he might bring the trophy back to Greenore again following Noel McGrane’s triumph in 1987.

Wind, hailstones, thunder and lighting turn the championship into a test of endurance, but Séamus, off scratch, comfortably survives the cut off for the matchplay with two rounds of 84. Harrington is the leading qualifier on 151.

He starts off by beating Graham Forbes (Newtownstewart) 2&1 before getting the better of Michael Sinclair (Knock) 3&1.

In the third round Séamus defeats another member of the Walker Cup team Niall Anderson (Shandon Park), enjoying a 2&1 verdict over the Belfast doctor.

This sets up an encounter with his county teammate Barry Reddan (Co. Louth) in the quarter-finals, and he shows nerve to win on the first tie hole.

Next it’s Harrington who Séamus recently defeated in the Leinster Final of the All-Ireland Inter- County Championship.

On three occasions the Greenore man is ahead before a winning 50ft putt on the 16th for a birdie by Harrington proves the decisive moment in the match.

The Stackstown player moves in front for the first time and follows by holding a six-footer for a half on the next hole.

He clinches victory by getting up and down at the 18th after going through the green.