Cormac Sharvin will go into this week’s Irish Amateur Open Championship full of confidence after claiming a top-five finish at the prestigious Lytham Trophy over the weekend.

Defending champion Graeme McDowell strangely launched into a vigorous defence of guaranteed Ryder Cup rookie Victor Dubuisson after the second round of the French Open.

Former European Tour player Stephen Browne still believes he has a chance of a dream comeback victory in the East of Ireland Championship despite slipping nine shots off the pace in a "US Open-style" test at blustery Baltray.

Just five years after taking up the game, 20-year-old Cormac Sharvin from Ardglass Golf Club became the Irish champion at Connemara yesterday, beating Paul Dunne by one hole in the final.

He might have had just five hours sleep and suffered an attack of nerves on the back nine, but no-one could deny that Greystones’ Paul Dunne deserved his one-shot victory in the East of Ireland Amateur Open at sun-splashed County Louth.

Alan Dunbar bounced back from a poor opening round to equal the course record at Carton House’s Montgomerie layout and leap into contention at the European Amateur Championship.

THE form book meant nothing as Dublin duo James Cluskey and Barry King turned on the style on the second day of the Green Property Irish Men’s Open at the Fitzwilliam Club.

FORMER Davis Cup player John McGahon last night followed current Ireland representative Barry King out of the Irish Close Championships, at the Donnybrook Club.

WELSH teenager Rhys Pugh claimed the Irish Amateur Open after a dramatic three-hole aggregate play-off at a wind-lashed Royal Dublin to take a giant step towards Walker Cup selection later this year.

IRISH trio Barry King, Sam Barry and Amy Bowtell yesterday nailed down places in the final round of qualifying in their respective ITF events in Glasgow.

THIS week’s Champions League semi-final first legs will go ahead as scheduled despite the current restriction on European air travel due to the volcanic ash cloud.

A “Legends of Irish Rugby Night” in aid of the IRFU Charitable Trust will take place on Friday in Greystones RFC.

Highfield continue to lead the way in Division Three, after they edged out a determined City of Derry 25-20 at Woodleigh Park this afternoon, on a day when seven out of eight home sides won.