On the last day of August, the day after Seamus Heaney died, I was at hurling training.

IT may not have been the finish either Major winner envisaged but Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will both head to the United States next week in positive mood following their Irish Open performances.

SWEDEN’S Pelle Edberg was in a league of his own with a second-round 64 at the European Tour event in cold and windy Majorca. It brought him into the joint lead with South African James Kingston, who was able to add only a level-par 70 to his pacesetting opening 65.

KILKENNY’S Gary Murphy took another step towards regaining his card and Niall Kearney showed his huge potential on a wind-lashed second day of the European Tour Qualifying School finals at PGA Golf Catalunya.

Scotland's Gavin Dear has one-stroke lead entering Sunday's final 36 holes of the Irish Amateur Open at a windy Royal Dublin.

Hamburg's Philipp Westermann fired the first sub-par round of the week to race into the clubhouse lead in the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

Defending champion Darren Crowe will face Limerick's Michael Kemmy in Sunday's second round of the South of Ireland championship at Lahinch.

Forrest Little's Eoin Arthurs took advantage of perfect early morning conditions to scorch to a six-under par 66 and a two stroke lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at County Louth.

A video camera lowered into a Utah mine where six workers have been missing for more than five days shows “survivable space”, but attempts to signal the miners were met by silence.

Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson took a giant step towards European Tour promotion thanks to his one-stroke win in the Challenge of Ireland at the Glasson Hotel and Country Club near Athlone.

Swede Magnus A Carlsson opened up a two shot lead as Birr’s Justin Kehoe and Antrim’s Gareth Maybin fell off the pace in the €150,000 Challenge of Ireland at Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club today.

WHAT a difference a week makes. Seven days ago, 28-year-old Colm Moriarty from Athlone was relying on invitations to Challenge Tour events as he attempted to get his career back on track after a dismal 2006 season.

Walker Cup hopeful Jonathan Caldwell staked a strong claim for selection in yesterday's Irish Amatuer Close Championship at Cork, where he shot a five under par 67 to lead the field after day one.

Banbridge's Richard Kilpatrick fired a sensational six-under par 66 to scorch into an impressive six-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth.

Limerick's Pat Murray fired a three under par 69 to share the first round lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Scrabo's Andrew McCormick put a poor start behind him to grab the early lead in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy struggled to a four-over par 75 as Co Louth's Simon Ward led the qualifiers in the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland Amateur Open.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Stephen Grant fired a sensational course record 64 in the first round of the Radisson SAS sponsored West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point.