FROM champions to wooden spoonists in the space of 12 months — that was the story for Ireland yesterday as the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals ended at Hillside on the Lancashire coast.

ULSTER justified pre-tournament favouritism at Douglas yesterday when they defeated Leinster 7½-5½ on the final day of the Golfsure Interprovincial Championship to complete the grand slam and regain the title they last held in 2006.

REVITALISED Munster staged a dramatic fight back in the afternoon singles to force a tie with Leinster on the second day of the Golfsure Inteprovincial Championship at Douglas yesterday. Nevertheless, the stage is still set today for a showdown between Leinster and Ulster, who had a comfortable victory over Connacht and go into the decider with a 100% record.

Defending champions Leinster were held 6 ½ - 6 ½ by Munster on the second day of the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial Championships at Douglas Golf Club, while Ulster beat Connacht by 9 ½ - 3 ½ .

WITH the notable exception of Niall Kearney, Ireland’s only representative in the British & Irish Walker Cup team next month, the country’s leading amateur golfers will all be in action over the next three days in the Golfsure Interprovincial Championship at Douglas.

A CHANCE round with Pádraig Harrington during the third round of the Irish PGA Championship at the European Club last month played a major part in Connor Doran’s victory in the Grant Thornton Mullingar Scratch Trophy.

Defending champion Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) will contest the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Belvoir Park Golf Club from June 7-11.

Portuguese teenager Pedro Figueiredo cruised to an impressive seven-shot victory in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin today.

Portugal's Pedro Figueiredo took advantage of a spectacular eagle two to fire a course record five-under par 67 and snatch a share of the lead entering the final 36-holes of the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs fired a course record 68 to take the first round lead in the AIB Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin yesterday.

Five Irish internationals have made an early exit from the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.

Dunmurry’s Darren Crowe has withdrawn from Ireland’s team for the Home Internationals at Co Louth Golf Club September 19-21.

Walker Cup skipper Colin Dalgleish has hailed Holywood star Rory McIlroy as a similar talent to Spanish wonderkid Sergio Garcia.

Ireland finished with the wooden spoon as Scotland stormed to victory in the Men's Home Internationals at Pyle and Kenfig.

Ireland's slim hopes of winning the Men's Home Internationals evaporated when they lost to 9-6 to England at Pyle and Kenfig in Wales today.

Unbeaten Rory McIlroy could not save Ireland from defeat in the Men's Home Internationals in Wales.

The Irish Team to compete in the 2006 Home Internationals at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club in

Rory McIlroy was in form again today as Ulster secured the Interprovincial Championship crown at Ballyliffin.

Ulster and Leinster today enjoyed convincing Interprovicial victories at the Ballyliffin Golf Club.

Ulster and Leinster both hold comfortable leads at the Interprovincial Championship at Ballyliffin after today's action.

After a duel in the sun at Royal Portrush, Dunmurry plus-three handicapper Darren Crowe was crowned Magners' North of Ireland Amateur Open champion.

It's now down to the last four in the Magners' North of Ireland Championship at Royal Portrush with the line-up being Rory Leonard (Banbridge) v Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) and Connor Doran (Banbridge) v Andrew Pitcher (The Island) with the possibiloity of tomorrow afternoon's final being an all-Banbridge affair.

Warrenpoint senior international and former professional Jim Carvill was put out of the North of Ireland Championship in the second round by Ballymena scratch handicapper Alex McCoy at Royal Portrush today.

Banbridge 24-year-old Connor Doran collected the silver medal as leading qualifier in the Magners' North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush this evening.

Teen star Rory McIlroy today became the first player since Joe Carr in 1965 to retain the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Sixteen-year-old Rory McIlroy (Holywood), who successfully defended the West of Ireland

Dunmurry's Darren Crowe is determined to break his title hoodoo in the Radisson SAS West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.

GRANTS totalling €65,000 were awarded by the Irish Sports Council to leading Irish golfers.

Charlie Mulqueen

Irish close champion, Rory McIlroy (Holywood) is one of four new caps included in the Ireland team for the Home Internationals which will be played at Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich,England on September 7-9.

Pre-Championship favourites Ulster captured the Golfsure sponsored Interprovincial

YOUTH invariably has its fling in the major championships these days but yesterday’s second round of the South of Ireland was an opportunity for those beyond their best playing days to show their worth.

LIMERICK teenager Cian McNamara faces strong opposition in his bid to retain his South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch over the next five days.

Six players have been selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland to compete in the European Individual Championship at Antwerp International Golf Club, Belgium, from August 17 to 20.

Rory McIlroy took the Irish Amateur Close Championship yesterday evening in Westport when he defeated Eddie McCormack three-and-two in the final.

Hollywood Golfer Rory McIlroy has beaten Eddie McCormack of Galway in the final of the Irish Amateur Close Championship in Westport Golf Club.

Hollywood Golfer Rory McIlroy and Eddie McCormack of Galway are currently contesting the final of the Irish Amateur Close Championship in Westport Golf Club.

Teenage prodigy Rory McIlroy is through to the semi-finals of the Irish Amateur Close Championship.

Irish Amateur Close Championship at Westport Golf Club

Reigning Irish champion Brian McElhinney (North West) will lead the three-man team to

STUNG into action after a poor showing on day one of the Golfsure sponsored Youth Interprovincial Championship at Lahinch, Munster’s young golfers well and truly delivered the goods when they overwhelmed champions Leinster 8-1 yesterday.

LEINSTER go into today’s Golfsure Youth Interprovincial Golf Tournament at Lahinch as defending champions but such is the galaxy of talent among the other provinces that a retention of the trophy is by no means certain.

TWENTY ONE-year-old Connor Doran performed the necessary heroics over the closing holes to play the lead part in yesterday’s Bulmer’s Barton Shield victory for Banbridge over Stackstown at Lisburn.