Teens Cadden and Kerins eye West of Ireland glory

 Mark Cadden in action during his quarter-final against Caolan Rafferty. Photo: Tom O'Hanlon / Inpho.

Teenagers Mark Cadden and Alex Kerins will face off for a place in the final of the Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship.

Roganstown talent Cadden (19) saw off former winners Barry Anderson and Caolan Rafferty as Carton House’s Kerins (19) beat Conor Stapleton and leading qualifier Jonathan Keane from Lahinch.

“Played great today, very, very steady stuff,” said Cadden after beating Anderson 4 and 3 and Walker Cup star Rafferty from Dundalk by a whopping 6 and 5.

“I was lucky enough to finish on 16 and 13, nice finish and put the feet up now for the rest of the day

“It’s matchplay, so anything can happen, just put your head down and grind away. Just try and make no mistakes.  

“Caolan is such a good golfer, he has won so many championships in Ireland, and (played) Walker Cup. I knew it was going to be a tough match playing him.”

In the other semi-final, last year’s beaten finalist, Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell, will take on The Island’s Cian Harkin.  

Campbell edged out 2024 champion Keith Egan on the 18th in his quarter-final as Harkin defeated home favourite Aodhagan Brady 3 and 2.

West of Ireland Amateur Open, sponsored by Connolly Motor Group, Co Sligo GC

Last 16

Jonathan Keane (Lahinch) bt Seán McLoughlin (County Sligo) 2/1
Alex Kerins (Carton House) bt Conor Stapleton (Westport) 5/4
Mark Cadden (Roganstown) bt Barry Anderson (Cork) 4/2
Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) bt Eoin Sullivan (Portmarnock) 3/2
Aodhagan Brady (Co Sligo) bt Rían Carvill (Warrenpoint) 4/3
Cian Harkin (Island) bt Robert Abernethy (Dun Laoghaire) 3/1
Keith Egan (Carton House) bt James Fox (Portmarnock) 2/1
Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) bt David Shiel (Enniscrone) 5/3

Quarter‑finals

Kerins bt Keane  3/2; Cadden bt Rafferty 6/5;  
Harkin bt Brady 3/2; Campbell bt Egan 1 up.

Semi‑finals

8:00 Kerins v Cadden;  
8:10 Harkin v Campbell.

Final (1.0).