Ireland’s hopes of a first Women’s Home International victory since 2004 were dealt a hammer blow on the opening day as the hosts were trounced 9-0 by England at Cork Golf Club.

Ireland will go into today’s Women’s Home Internationals at Cork Golf Club with team captain Claire Coughlan-Ryan determined her side can make a mockery of the world rankings.

Most of the top lady golfers from Ireland and Britain, including Curtis Cup stars, will compete in the prestigious Ladies Home International Championships at Cork Golf Club next week.

Paula Grant secured a healthy top 10 finish and was the leading Irish competitor in the Ladies British Open Strokeplay Championship at Shandon Park in Belfast yesterday.

With the disappointing late withdrawal of the Slieve Russell twins Leona and Lisa Maguire, the focus of attention turned to the other Irish competitors in the smaller-than-usual field in the British Ladies Open stroke-play championship at Shandon Park, Belfast yesterday.

It has been some year for Royal Portrush.

Ireland suffered heartache in a dramatic climax to the Men’s Amateur Home Internationals at Glasgow Gailes on the Ayrshire coast last night as their title disappeared in the dying moments of the round-robin series.

Adrian Morrow flew home from Austria yesterday on cloud nine after conquering a top class field to clinch the European Seniors Amateur Championship.

Rory McIlroy will have Michael Bannon as his full time coach after the Bangor professional announced he would leave his club job to hit the road with the reigning US Open champion.

England’s Emily Taylor won the Irish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay by three strokes from Ireland’s Mary Dowling (New Ross) and Gillian O’Leary (Cork) at The Island Golf Club yesterday.

LEINSTER are the toast of Irish golf after winning the Women’s Interprovincials following their thrilling 5½ to 3½ win over Ulster on the final day of play at Cork Golf Club yesterday.

It is all to play for after day one of the Women’s Interprovincials at Cork GC yesterday.

Ulster’s ambition to win a third consecutive Women’s Interprovincial golf title this week at Cork Golf Club has been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of two of their more experienced players.

A 60-year-old grandmother, who made a remarkable recovery from a devastating stroke, told last night how she owed her life to a general hospital in West Cork.

IRELAND were pipped at the post in a gripping finale to the Women’s Amateur Home International at rain-sodden Whitchurch in Cardiff yesterday.

IRELAND’S hopes of winning a third European Men’s Amateur team title in four years were dashed in Sweden yesterday when they failed to make the top flight for the matchplay phase.

MARY DOWLING may have to invest in a new phone after yesterday’s dramatic success on the final day of the Lancome Irish Women’s Close Championship at Portstewart Golf Club.

THE superstar status of the Maguire twins from Slieve Russell has given ladies golf in this country a massive boost. So there was huge disappointment when holder Leona’s early exit ensured there would be no final battle between the 14 year-olds at the Lancome Irish Women’s Close Championship at Fota Island Resort today.

THE Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, remain on course to meet in today’s final of the Lancome Irish Women’s Close Championship in Westport.

Child star Lisa Maguire has blasted her way into the semi-finals of

Child star Lisa Maguire has blasted her way into the semi-finals of the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at Lahinch today.

Leading qualifier Tara Delaney cruised into the last 16 of the Lancôme Irish Ladies Close Championship with a 3 and 1 win over Charlotte Crowe at Lahinch today.

Carlow's Tara Delaney led the qualifiers in the Lancôme Irish Ladies’

Galway's Sinead O’Sullivan hit a brilliant level-par 74 today to lead the Lancôme Irish Ladies’ Close Championship after the first qualifying round at windswept Lahinch.

Kerry have established their first Camogie County Board. The board is made up of members from four of the five clubs that have been established in Kerry.

LEINSTER battled to a 6½-2½ victory on day two of the 2006 Ladies Interprovincials against Ulster at Headfort Golf Club yesterday, while Connacht and Munster got a half point each, tying at 4½-4½.

Leinster look to defend their Ladies Interprovincial title when the three-day tournament starts at Headfort Golf Club, Kells, Co Meath, on August 2-4.

Tricia Mangan (Ennis), fresh from her seventh-place finish at the Welsh Open Strokeplay, defends her Lancome Irish Ladies’ Close Championship at The European Club, Co Wicklow, May 13 to 17.

THE scene is set for a battle between Leinster and Munster on Day 3 of the Ladies Interprovincials at the Royal Belfast golf course.

INSPIRED by Claire Coughlan, who defeated Curtis Cup reserve Martina Gillen in the top singles match, Munster cast aside the Leinster bogey on the opening day of the AIB Bank Ladies Senior Golf Interpros at Mount Wolseley, Carlow yesterday.