Castle’s Alex Gleeson shrugged off some late resistance from Whitehead’s John-Ross Galbraith to win the AIG Irish Amateur Close title 3 and 1 on the majestic Glashedy Links at Ballyliffin.

Tiarnan McLarnon (23) from the Massereeene club in Antrim became the fifth Northern Ireland golfer in a row to capture the AIG Irish Close Championship, beating Alex Gleeson (Castle) 2&1 in Saturday’s final at Tramore.

Tiarnan McLarnan and Eugene Smith, both 23, and Robin Dawson, 20, and Alex Gleeson, 21, have qualified to meet in this morning’s semi-finals of the AIG Irish Close Championship at Tramore.

Open Championship hero Paul Dunne has stayed true to his instincts and confirmed he will remain an amateur until after the Walker Cup this September.