Old swinger Gorey is still going strong

He might have been watched by 60 years-old Des Smyth, but Niall Gorey is determined to become the oldest swinger in town by breaking his championship duck in the West of Ireland Amateur Open at Rosses Point today.

The 32-year old Muskerry player, now back in his native Co Kildare, impressed 1973 champion Smyth with his guts and determination as he crushed Gary McDermott’s dream of becoming the first Co Sligo winner of ‘the West’ for 63 years with a 19th hole quarter-final win.

Beaten in the semi-finals by Alan Dunbar two years ago, formerinternational Gorey lost a three up lead by the 11th but brilliantly halved the 12th, birdied the 15th with a sensational four iron to six feet and then recovered from losing the 17th with a winning par at the first extra hole.