Niall Kearney receives the Moran Cup from The Royal Dublin’s Captain Dec Nolan and Southern Branch Chair, Phil Ring
There’s nothing more special for a Royal Dublin man that victory in the Moran Cup.
It’s little wonder then that the host club’s Niall Kearney was thrilled to fire a five-under-par 67 on Monday to claim the trophy named after the legendary Michael “Dyke” Moran.
Inaugurated in 1920 and open to all PGA Southern Branch professionals and assistants, Moran was one of Irish golf’s earliest superstars and the trophy was founded to perpetuate the memory of his glittering career.
Born at Curley’s Yard, which was named after his maternal grandfather, Patrick Curley and remains visible between the third and 13th holes, he won the Irish Professional championship five times between 1909 and 1913.
It was a feat unmatched by such greats as Harry Bradshaw or Christy O’Connor, who had runs of four in a row. In fact, such was Moran’s brilliance, he became the first Irishman to win prize money in the 1913 Open Championship at Hoylake, finishing in a tie for third place with Harry Vardon to take home £12 and 10 shillings as the great JH Taylor claimed the Claret Jug for the fifth and final time.
He was killed in action in World War I, dying of his wounds at the War Hospital of Le Cateau in France in April 1918, though his family did not learn of his death until December 14, more than a month after the armistice.
He was just 31, or five years younger than Kearney, who took advantage of bright sunny skies and a fresh south-westerly wind to win by five strokes from Cian Geraghty from Dundalk Golf Club.
Conditions were challenging from start but Kearney raced to the turn in five-under 30 and came home in level par against the breeze to top the 76-man field.
Tim Rice, Colm Moriarty and Royal Dublin professional, John Dwyer finished third with 73s.
