LOOKING MORE like the hero in a John Ford western than one of Ireland's up-and-coming golf stars, Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney swaggered towards the stunning Lahinch sunset with a look of immense satisfaction on his young face.

Standing six feet two and thin as a four-iron, the 20-year-old Dubliner etched his place in the history books when he became the first player from the storied Bull Island club to lift the McNamara-sponsored South of Ireland Championship since Noel Fogarty broke the mould in 1967.

"I've been working hard for the last few years to get my game up to scratch to win a title like this," Kearney said at the end of sun- kissed afternoon. "It is a relief that is has come now. It's great. My first senior championship."

A long-time friend of Lahinch, Fogarty was on hand to congratulate his fellow clubman on his seemingly effortless 4 and 3 victory over Paul O'Hanlon of The Curragh, the reigning Irish Close champion.

It is an achievement that undoubtedly heralds the start of a bright golfing future for the former Leinster and Irish Boys champion and brings to a close a memorable summer that saw him play a pivotal role in Ireland's second successive European Team Championship victory in Turin.

No doubt Christy O'Connor Senior can claim some of the credit for Kearney's immaculate short game, having taken the young Raheny man out onto the links at Royal Dublin for pitching a chipping lessons in recent years.

Indeed, Kearney used those skills to brilliant effect when he came back from two down after seven holes to beat Aaron O'Callaghan of Douglas 3 and 2 in the semi-finals, rattling home birdies at the eighth, ninth, 11th and 13th to turn the match on its head.

Newbridge native O'Hanlon did exactly the same to see off surprise package Niall Gorey of Lee Valley in the other semi-final and the small but powerfully built 23-year-old had nothing but praise for his Ireland team-mate at the end of an entertaining final.

"I didn't perform this afternoon but I don't want to take anything away from Niall, who is the best young player in the country bar Rory McIlroy," said O'Hanlon, whose run to the final earned him enough points to pip Shane Lowry for the GUI's Order of Merit title, the Willie Gill Award.

Lahinch Scores

Semi-finals

Paul O'Hanlon (The Curragh) bt Niall Gorey (Lee Valley) 3 and 2

Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas) 3 and 2

Final

Kearney bt O'Hanlon 4 and 3