Niall Kearney enjoys good start at Irish Open…

Niall Kearney enjoys good start at Irish Open following 'very annoying' time

Niall Kearney got the start he craved at the Horizon Irish Open as he targets a big week with time running out on his season.

Every appearance counts for the Dubliner on the DP World Tour and he made it count yesterday by equalling Seamus Power for best Irish performance at Mount Juliet.

He shot a 68 that included five birdies on his front nine and just the one bogey on the way in, on the eighth hole - where Power and Seamus Lowry also struggled.

However Kearney has had to put a sense of grievance at how things have worked out aside to fight for more events in the coming weeks.

The 34-year-old had expected to move up the category status ladder on the Tour based on good results but, when Covid struck, the categories were restructured and he lost out.

"Yeah, it's been very annoying, to be honest," said Kearney.

"I just missed out on a card last year and I ended up with a card now that's worse than it's ever been in terms of my category based on the structure that they put in last year.

"I find myself sitting on a worse card than guys that played really bad last year - those are just the rules they came up with certainly didn't benefit me.

"The partial card was stronger in years gone by - it used to be a single category and now it's category 16a, b, c. It's much more populated, with much more players.

"All those guys get in and then it starts to trickle down to me.

"Even Germany last week, for instance, was very much last minute. I wasn't in it until Saturday or Sunday. All that stuff now, I can't really plan ahead. I can't schedule."

That's not helpful to a player fighting to earn his full Tour card.

But Kearney gritted his teeth last week for a tied-15th finish in the BMW International Open that saw him claim precious prize money worth €25,500 and precious Race to Dubai points.

"That's only four or five tournaments left for me in the season and I'm playing against guys that are maybe playing a few tournaments," he said.

"I've got to make the most of every week."

He had family and friends supporting him yesterday and his brother Mick, the former Leinster, Connacht and Ulster rugby player, is due to do so today.

Mick, who was a back row, called time on his career this summer.

"There is a very, very strong bond there," said Niall.

"I think he's happy finishing up, he has done so well coming out of a school that is not necessarily a rugby school.

"He has gone on to play with three of the provinces and became a very strong player.

"He's happy now to kick on to a different chapter in his life, which is great."

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