Harrington delighted with Irish win

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Harrington ended Ireland's 25-year wait for a home winner with a nerve-wracking play-off win over Wales' Bradley Dredge after the pair had finished tied on five under par at Adare Manor.

"The World Cup I won with Paul McGinley was just unbelievable. The Ryder Cup in 2002, again, unbelievable. I would put it (Irish Open win) as an equal (achievement)," said Harrington.

Harrington seemed certain to become the first Irish winner since John O'Leary in 1982 when he birdied the seventh and eighth and eagled the ninth to lead by four shots.

Despite a determined challenge by playing partner Dredge, he also led by two with two to play, only for Dredge to birdie the 17th while Harrington bogeyed from the middle of the fairway with just a wedge for his second shot.

"I'm thrilled," added Harrington, who finally sealed victory with a par five when the players returned to the 18th, Dredge's third shot having plugged in the bank of the greenside lake.

"I felt coming into the tournament, aside from a bit of jetlag, that I was on top of my game and really ready to play.

"So I spent the whole week trying to keep a really even keel and not get ahead of myself all the way through.

"It's quite a relief - when you're trying to keep it down all the time, trying to keep your emotions down, it's quite a relief now to have won it."