The 11th edition of the Irish Challenge takes place this week at Killeen Castle with a raft of local talent looking to impress on home soil. Here are three players to keep an eye on…
Form horse: John Gough
Englishman John Gough will be feeling at home at Killeen Castle. Despite growing up just outside of London, the 27-year-old’s father originates from Co. Meath and Gough himself is Killeen Castle’s playing professional. And during the early exchanges of last year’s Irish Challenge, the local knowledge appeared to pay off for Gough with a four under par 68 vaulting the Englishman into the early pacesetters. A second round 77 and final round 75 would extinguish Gough’s chances of victory 12 months ago, the former Walker Cup star, however, returns to Killeen in the best form of his professional career.
After making the cut at the English Open supported by HotelPlanner, his best performance on the Road to Mallorca since February’s Jonsson Workwear Durban Open, Gough would finally enter the winner’s circle with an impressive display at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André to win the Blot Play9 by two strokes.
Since then, Gough has also impressed at the Infortar Estonian Challenge where he ended the week in a tie for 11th. Given his recent form and ties to Killeen, Gough contending for a second title of the season feels likely.
Local boy: Robert Moran
26-year-old Robert Moran returns to scene of his career-best performance this week. The Irishman, who gained entry into the 2025 Irish Challenge via invitation, flourished on home soil, with his four-round total of six under par seeing him end the week in fourth position.
The result saw Moran win the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and earn entry into the Amgen Irish Open for what was his first appearance in his country’s national open.
What’s more, Moran heads to Killeen Castle in promising form having played the majority of the 2026 on the Alps Tour, one of the HotelPlanner Tour’s Official Satelitte Tours. The Irishman currently sits third on the Order of Merit thanks to three runner-up finishes, coming within the first four events of the season and two further top tens.
With a place on the 2027 Road to Mallorca firmly in his sights, Moran fast tracking his progress with a positive performance on a course he enjoys is not out of the question this week.
Outsider: Cormac Sharvin
Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin arrives at Killeen Castle fresh off winning the Irish PGA Championship where he beat the The K Club’s Conor O’Rourke at Limerick Golf Club following a back-and-forth back nine battle.
What’s more, Sharvin plays out of Killeen Castle and knows this week’s testing lay-out better than most. With a promotion under his belt in 2019 and DP World Tour experience to boot, Sharvin returning to form on the Road to Mallorca, on a track he knows, is not completely out of the question.
