South of Ireland: "Ace" Adler to face Murray; Doran takes on Campbell-slayer Hill

“He at all times wished me to play in it, and to have the chance to come back right here the final two years and play fairly effectively to get so far has been nice. It could imply every little thing to win the ‘South’.”

Adler has his work lower out in opposition to wily Tipperary man Murray, who got here again from 4 down after 9 holes to beat 18-year-old Co Sligo expertise Aodhagan Brady 1-up with a birdie-birdie end within the final 16 earlier than he dashed the goals of Lahinch’s Stephen Loftus with a 3&2 win within the quarter-finals.

“I’ve been hitting the ball effectively, very stable,” mentioned Murray, Normal Supervisor of Tramore Golf Membership, who insists he has loads of vitality left within the tank.

“I’ve my pal Mike Reddan on the bag right this moment and it’s all good.”

Murray has used all his expertise to this point this week — refusing to panic when 4 right down to Higgins earlier than fastidiously managing a five-up lead in opposition to Loftus.

Whereas he’s received simply one in every of his earlier eight semi-finals, the yr he lifted the trophy in 2012, he believes he can win once more.

“You want a break and to play good golf however I imagine I can win,” he mentioned.

Within the different half of the draw, Galgorm Fortress’s Joshua Hill birdied the 18th to drive additional holes earlier than beating defending champion Colm Campbell with a par on the twenty first.

Winner of the Mullingar Scratch Trophy, the big-hitting 20-year-old got here again from three down after eight holes to beat Hermitage’s Aaron Naughton on the nineteenth within the final 16 earlier than holding off the dogged Campbell within the quarters.

He was three-up after 4 holes earlier than Campbell fought again to grab the lead with a birdie on the sixteenth.

However after the Warrenpoint man lipped out from 10 ft for the match on the 18th, Hill went on to win on the third tie-hole with a par to arrange a semi-final assembly with 28-year-old Leinster interprovincial Brian Doran from Millicent.

“It was a really lengthy day,” mentioned Hill, who has simply accomplished his freshman yr on the College of South Alabama.

“Total, I performed very well, however I simply want a number of extra putts would have dropped, and possibly the rounds wouldn’t have been so hectic.

‘“However total, I’m very pleased with how I’m off the tee and into the greens and stuff, simply ready for a number of putts to drop, hopefully.”

Doran misplaced a three-up lead earlier than beating 16-year-old Finlay Keen from Royal Belfast with a par on the nineteenth to arrange a quarterfinal assembly with Carton Home’s Darragh Flynn, who beat one other 16-year-old in up-and-coming Galway Bay star Rory Gallagher 4&2.However within the quarter-finals, Doran proved the stronger, by no means trailing as he closed out a 2&1 win.“That is my sixth time on the ‘South’ during the last 10 years and the primary time I’ve gone previous the primary spherical,” mentioned Doran, who got here again from 4 down with seven to play to beat Dun Laoghaire’s Richard Sykes within the second spherical.

“I missed the lower by a good distance right here final yr and so I’m again for revenge after placing in a variety of work over the winter.

“I used to be second to Paul Coghlan within the Munster Strokeplay and 14th within the East, which received me a call-up for the Interpros at Slieve Russell, which we received.

“It’s unbelievable to be within the semi-finals. However I imagine I can win. Positively. I’m wanting ahead to it.”