McGeady makes finals

By Brian Keogh

Mick McGeady kept his European Tour dream alive when he clinched his place in this week's Q-School finals.

The Derry ace, 29, closed with a pressure packed 69 at Sherry Golf to grab his spot in the six-round shootout for 30 cards at San Roque.

Cork amateur Peter O'Keeffe and Ulsterman Damian Mooney also came through stage two in Spain to earn a trip to the nerve-jangling finals.

Facing a year in the mini tours if he missed out, McGeady burst through to grab the 15th of 18 qualifying spots this week.

Determined to finish the job, McGeady said: "If I didn't come through I would have been back to the EuroPro Tour next year and playing for ten grand sterling every week instead of having a chance to get on the main tour.

"If I make the 72-hole cut at San Roque, I will play every event on the Challenge Tour next year. But I am not thinking like that. I am aiming high and let's see what happens.

"I am looking forward to it now and hopefully I can do the business. I have been to Q-School twice before and never got past stage two, so this is the furthest I've been."

The top 30 after six rounds earn tour cards and Ireland will have five contenders with McGeady, Mooney and amateur O'Keeffe joined by the already-qualified Stephen Browne and Colm Moriarty.

Douglas ace O'Keeffe grabbed a surprise share of sixth spot at Sherry Golf on five-under after a closing 72 with McGeady two shots further back in 15th.

Belfast man Mooney, 39, also shot 72 to share 13th at Costa Ballena, where just 20 players clinched spots at the finals.

But there was disappointment all round for the rest of the Irish with World Cup pair Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin failing to make it.

Maybin missed by four shots at Arcos Gardens with Hoey making up the numbers at Costa Ballena.

Dubliner Noel Fox came up three shy at PGA Golf de Catalunya while Walker Cup players Lloyd Saltman and David Horsey also missed out.

(Scoreboard)

Arcos Gardens (19 qualified) Failed to qualify: T32 G Maybin, C Devlin, G Robinson 289; T60 M McDermott 298.

Sherry Golf (18 qualified) Qualified T6 P O'Keeffe 283; T15 McMcGeady 285. Failed to qualify: T62 A Murray 299.

PGA Golf de Catalunya (17 qualified) Failed to qualify: T 21 N Fox 288; T 35 S Thornton 292; T 53 G Cullen 297; T 60 R Kilpatrick 300.

Costa Ballena Club de Golf (20 qualified) Qualified T13 D Mooney 281; Failed to qualify T 73 M Hoey 298.