by Tom Hunt

Sunday was a day like no other for the Power cousins, Seamus and Kieran, as they competed in their chosen sports at the highest level. 

As Kieran completed his warm-up routine for Waterford in Walsh Park in preparation for his Allianz National Hurling League start against Westmeath, several time zones away on the driving range at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, his first cousin Seamus was completing his routine in preparation for an early tee time for the weather threatened final round of the AT & T Byron Nelson Classic  golf tournament. Only the inclement weather provided a common denominator to the events as Kieran competed for the honour and glory of the county and Seamus chased a share of the $8.1 million prize fund on offer for the PGA event. 

Kieran Power had a fine game in the Waterford defence during his fifty-five minutes on the pitch and contributed a point to Waterford’s total 1-22 total as the home side defeated Westmeath by three points (1-22 to 1-19). The Dungarvan GAA Club member has been a member of the Waterford senior hurling panel during Liam Cahill’s tenure as manager having previously lined out for Waterford in the national football league and championship.

Back in February 2012, Kieran Power was an inspiring captain as Colaisti na nDeise (Dungarvan Schools) captured the Harty Cup, Munster colleges senior hurling title for the first time. 

A month later Seamus Power won his first professional golf title when he won the River Run Tournament in North Carolina and picked up a cheque for $15,000 for his efforts. This was on the minor e-Tour circuit (the golfing equivalent of the Lory Meagher Cup or lower perhaps) from which he graduated to the Web.Com Tour in 2015. He earned a valuable PGA tour card in 2017, retained his card in 2018 and slipped just outside the top 125 in 2019 which restricted his playing opportunities in the Covid impacted season of 2020. 

An injured arm that required surgery at the end of the season also impacted on the year. He was a recent victim of the virus but a brilliant pre-qualifying round of 62 earned him a place in the Wells Fargo Championship where he eventually finished in 54th place. After shooting rounds of 65, 68 and 67 for a 16 under par total of 200 in the Byron Nelson Classic, his lowest three round total on the PGA tour, Power was a contender for the first time sharing seventh place just four strokes behind the leader Sam Burns. He began brilliantly and with five birdies on the opening nine holes he moved to - 21 and into second place two strokes behind the eventual winner K. H. Lee. Unfortunately, Power’s charge ended with a double bogey on the 13th hole followed by a three-putt bogey on the 14th hole as the weather deteriorated before the players were taken off the course as Power and his group were playing their final hole. 

Golf is a cruel game and two mistakes in a great final round were costly for Seamus Power as he eventually finished in a tie for ninth place that earned him a cheque of $212,625 to bring his official career earnings to $3,223,623 as he moved up 26 places on the FedEx Cup rankings from 195th to 169th place.  The top 125 in the rankings retain their PGA status and a place in the most competitive and lucrative golf circuit in the world of golf.

Both Kieran and Seamus Power are members of families steeped in the traditions of the GAA; Kieran’s father, also Kieran, was one of the greats of Waterford football playing for the county and the John Mitchel’s Club in the 1970s prior to his emigration to New York where he again proved his ability with the powerful Tyrone team of the early 1980s in a forward line that also included the great Frank McGuigan.  Big and powerful and sublimely skilful, when the superstars were imported for the final stages of the championship, ‘Big Kieran’ as he was known in Gaelic Park always found a place in the Tyrone starting line-up.  Seamus Power’s father Ned was a long serving hurling goalkeeper with the Sliabh gCua – St Mary’s (Touraneena) Club and also guarded the net on occasions for the county during the 1970s. 

It has been quite the journey for Seamus Power who began his golfing career in the West Waterford Golf Club, a club located in the heart of Brickey Rangers football country. Life might have been  different for the East Tennessee State University graduate who represented Ireland at the Rio Olympics, if it wasn’t for the foresight of Pat Spratt and other members of the Spratt family who developed the Eddie Hackett designed West Waterford course, in the early 1990s.  When the Brickey Rangers won their only senior football title 8 December 1963, Bill, Michael and Justin Spratt  were members of the team with Pat, one of the club’s finest footballers, missing out due to injury. But times were different back then.  This final was originally scheduled for 24 November 1963 but was postponed as a mark of respect for John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the President of the USA who was assassinated in Dallas, Texas two days earlier!

On Sunday, just 30 miles outside Dallas, Seamus Power proved that he can compete at the highest level in the savage bear pit arena  that is the PGA golf circuit; down in Walsh Park, Kieran Power’s performance suggested that he too can contend for a place on the Waterford senior hurling team for  the 2021 championship campaign. 

 

 

  

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