Stu-pendous home success for Grehan in Irish Amateur Championship at Seapoint
The 32-year-old former professional is a native of Offaly, but he now lives in Termonfeckin and that made the victory all the more special.
He started the final round four shots in arrears after carding a level-par 72 on Saturday but saved his best until last, shooting a bogey-free 66 to take the championship to extra holes before he won it on the 10th green.
Going into the final day, the defending champion Matt McClean from the Malone club was still in contention after opening with a course-record 64 and he went on to set a -13 total and assume the clubhouse lead after landing eight birdies in his last round.
Marlborough's Hayward was also in the shake-up along with County Louth's Gerard Dunne, while Grehan started the final round four shots adrift in a tie for fourth place.
He went on to put together an outstanding 18 holes, though, and when his approach landed on 18th green he had a real chance of posting an insurmountable lead.
However, his eagle putt finished inches short and that left Hayward with a birdie chance to win, but he missed his chance and the tournament went to a play-off.
The atmosphere became more tense when Grehan went over the 18th green on the second play-off hole, but Hayward missed his opportunity and Grehan made him pay after they returned to the 10th.
As Grehan celebrated with his young family, he said he was 'absolutely thrilled', revealing that he regularly walks his dog around the Seapoint area.
It was only last October that Grehan called time on his career as a touring professional to focus on his work as a financial consultant, expressing the wish that he could regain his amateur status and challenge for a place on Great Britain and Ireland's team for the 2026 Walker Cup in Lahinch.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Gerard Dunne eventually finished in a tie for fourth in Sunday's finale, with Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty tied for 15th and Seapoint's leading finisher Dylan Keating in 29th place.
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