New Year – Same Old Story for Shane Keary

It may be a New Year but it was the same old story for the grumpiest man in Irish poker as Shane Keary followed up his two victories in the Irish Poker Tour Final Festival by taking the trophy in the first event of 2025.

The Galway Poker Festival Opener attracted 93 entries building a prizepool of nearly €15,000 and when we reached the final six players everyone looked at each other and said, “let’s start the week well”, and came to a friendly deal. Shane had a reasonable chip lead and so he got €2,300 leaving €2,050 each for the other five.

The deal was made easier by the presence of three regulars at Galway’s own Eglinton Casino; Shane, Patrick McGinley and Mark ‘The Taxman’ Kilkelly. Ollie Boyce, Hrvoje ‘Harry’ Ancic and Alex Coughlan completed the lucky six.