McDermott keeps local hopes alive in West of Ireland

He might be the last County Sligo man standing, but local hopeGary McDermott welcomes the pressure as he bids to become the first home winner of the West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship for 63 years.

The 31-year-old bank official positively revelled in the arctic conditions at Rosses Point yesterday, defying a 30mph southeast wind and a windchill factor of minus two to cruise into the last 16.

Following a 4 and 2 win over Laytown and Bettystown’s Cian Geraghty, former international McDermott was in sensational form against left-hander Mark Shanahan in a 4 and 3 second round win.