Even at the time it was remarked that many of the top Irish players were missing from this championship: the proximity to the Skopje Olympiad (September 18-October 13) made it difficult for players to have sufficient time for both events. In particular only two previous champions participated (Heidenfeld and Henry). But in addition the entire field combined succeeded in winning only one subsequent Irish championship (Tony Doyle in 1974).

It was thus an excellent opportunity for a relative outsider to win. Matt O'Leary almost took advantage, taking a clear lead into the last round where he had the white pieces against Art Coldrick, but he could only draw, ending in a tie for first and narrowly losing the playoff match three months later.

The 1970 champion Paul Henry of Belfast must have rued a major missed opportuntiy: he held the joint lead with O'Leary heading into the penultimate round, having already played both eventual winners, but suffered a catastrophic mixup in the opening against Art Coldrick that left him virtually lost after half a dozen moves, for his only defeat; a last-round win left him half a point adrift of the winners.

David Cox, who entered the following FIDE list (July 1973) at 2325, was well placed on 4/6, only half a point off the lead, but miscalculated against O'Leary in round 7 and followed with a loss to Wolfgang Heidenfeld. Michael Keeshan, one of the highest-rated players, had a disappointing tournament, while another, Tony Dennehy, had a disastrous start with three losses in the first four games. Tony Doyle, in his first Irish championship, struggled to a –1 finish.

Wolfgang Heidenfeld, playing in his second-last Irish championship, lost early on to O'Leary but shared the lead after round 4 and thereafter was never more than ½ point off the lead. Three straight wins to finish was enough to tie with O'Leary for first place. He clinched his sixth title with a 2½-1½ win in the playoff match.