Local Hero Rooney Reaches Galway Final

John Rooney marked his return to the Irish city of his birth in fine style when he reached the final of the Garavan's West of Ireland Open at Galway Tennis Club in Galway after two successive upsets over higher-seeded opponents.

The 27-year-old seventh seed made his breakthrough in the quarter-finals when he defeated England's David Barnett, the top seed, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7.

In the semi-finals later in the day, Rooney faced another Englishman, qualifier Ben Ford. In front of a packed gallery, the Galway hero lost the first game but managed to win the next two.

Despite having three match-balls in the fourth, Rooney was unable to stop Ford from clawing his way back to force the match into a fifth game decider. The Irishman looked tired at this stage but battled on - and after the game went to a tiebreaker, it was Rooney who ultimately emerged victorious 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 10-11 (1-3), 11-10 (3-1) after 70 minutes.

Now in his second PSA Tour final in five weeks, Rooney meets Scotland's third seed Stuart Crawford. The reigning Scottish champion had an easier ride, dismissing England's eighth seed Robbie Temple 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-7 in just 36 minutes to celebrate his first appearance in a Tour final.

Semi-finals:
[7] John Rooney (IRL) bt [Q] Ben Ford (ENG) 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 10-11 (1-3), 11-10 (3-1) (70m)
[3] Stuart Crawford (SCO) bt [8] Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-7, 11-10 (3-1), 11-7 (36m)