Sean Flanagan aims to be pride of the West and end 65-year home wait

Youngster Sean Flanagan will today bid to become the first local golfer to claim the West of Ireland Golf Championship in 65 years.

The 18-year-old faces Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy in this morning’s semi-finals, looking to edge closer to a first ‘home’ triumph on the course since the legendary Cecil Ewing lifted the trophy in 1950.

Jimmy Feeney, a winner in 1987, and 2013 winner Rory McNamara were both country members of the club, but you have to go back to 1994 for when a full member even last contested a final, as Ken Kearney went down to Pádraig Harrington in the decider.