Rory McIlroy made short work of overcoming Banbridge man Conor Doran 4 and 3 to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with English challenger David Horsey at the West of Ireland Amateur Championship.
The 16-year-old defending champion got off to a flying start in windy conditions to go three up after six against Doran with whom he rooms on interprovincial and international duty.
After that he didn't look back and eventually ran out 4 and 3 winner.
Horsey progressed to the semi-final by accounting for Randall Evans 5 and 4. His front nine included an eagle two at the second and he turned for home six-up, eventually winning 5 and 4.
In the other half of the draw Scrabo's Andrew McCormick and the Curragh's Paul O'Hanlon had to work much harder to progress at the expense of Seamus Power and Darren Crowe respectively.
Third Round - R Evans (Moyola Park) bt D Downie (Sutton) 4 and 3; D Horsey (Styal) bt K Stack (Dungarvan) 3 and 2; C Doran (Banbridge) bt D Moran (The Island) 3 and 2; R McIlroy (Holywood) bt T O'Neill (Rathsallagh) 4 and 3; S Power (West Waterford) bt G Bowden (Hermitage) 1 hole; A McCormick (Scrabo) bt J Lyons (Galway) 3 and 2; D Crowe (Dunmurry) bt C Hughes (Royal Portrush) 1 hole; P O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt P Sheehan (Ballybunion) at 20th.
Quarter-finals - Horsey bt Evans 5 and 4; McIlroy bt Doran 4 and 3; McCormick bt Power 2 and 1; O'Hanlon bt Crowe 2 and 1.
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