An Englishman and an Irishman competed in the final pairing of the Open Championship in Northern Ireland. Sounds like the start of a bad joke, but that was how the script for the 148th Open at Royal Portrush played out.

Antrim were full value for their first Qualifier victory in four seasons over disappointing Louth in the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda on Saturday night.

The game itself was a walking, talking, advert for a tiered football championship, so when the competition on the pitch doesn’t scare you, you look for motivation elsewhere, and Richie Donnelly found it within his own dressing room.

Tyrone charged through to the Ulster SFC semi-finals with a demolition job at the Athletic Grounds.

Matthew Fitzpatrick was left wondering what might have been had he not opened his Masters account with a round of 78.

Tommy Fleetwood admitted he had been determined to retain his hunger after successfully defending the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

"It was another great round and another really good confidence builder - not just for this week but for the rest of the season, as well."

Jimmy Walker fired a second round 65 to move to the top of the leaderboard in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron.

McDowell left the course shattered by a poor finish that seriously compromises his hopes of participating in the Open Championship over the coming weeks, writes John McHenry.

Rory McIlroy came to Portstewart determined to separate himself from the rest of the world’s top stars.

Sligo ran riot in the second half against 14-man Antrim at Markievicz Park to take a comfortable All-Ireland SFC Round 1A Qualifier win.

Diarmuid Connolly will find it “extremely difficult” to overturn his 12-week suspension following mention of his brush with linesman Ciarán Branagan in the referee’s report, according to Joe Brolly.

Donegal 3-19 Antrim 1-9: With the wheels of change evident in Donegal, there was further evidence of its forward trajectory at Ballybofey yesterday.

GAA pundit Joe Brolly appears to have come to the rescue of Antrim’s Matthew Fitzpatrick after the footballer was hit with a proposed 48-week suspension.

UCC were given every chance to bring this Sigerson Cup semi-final to extra-time. They squandered the lot and so St Mary’s will contest their first decider in 24 years this afternoon.

St Mary’s 1-9

Colin Montgomerie has been involved in enough Ryder Cups to know the value of a rookie.

Antrim 0-9 Limerick 2-6: They came, they saw, they conquered — that was Limerick footballers who tasted victory, at Corrigan Park in Belfast on Saturday, for the first time since April 2015, when they carved out a league win over Louth, in Drogheda.

Jason Day ended up on his knees in pain but fought on to beat Graeme McDowell 3 and 2 on the opening day of the WGC-Dell Match Play at Austin Country Club in Texas.

Shane Lowry brushed off an elbow to the face to maintain his lofty position near the top of the British Masters leader board at Woburn.

St Mary’s College 1-10 NUI Galway 1-7

Full House as Fota tops BMW PGA

Justin Walters is the early leader of the 2014 Irish open which is underway at Fota Island Co Cork.

Four Irish amateurs will tee it up at Fota Island today and while they all dream of following in the footsteps of fairytale 2009 champion Shane Lowry, they’re just thrilled to have a chance to rub shoulders with Rory McIlroy and some of the best players in the world.

The Irish Open has provided me with many of my very best memories from professional golf.

US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick leaves innocent ways behind him today as he starts life in the professional ranks at Fota Island Resort.

Graeme McDowell allowed himself the pat on the back he knew Pinehurst No.2 would not give him after an opening round at the US Open that leaves the Portrush golfer primed to regain the title he won in 2010.

Reigning US Amateur champion and Open Championship silver medallist Matthew Fitzpatrick has chosen the Irish Open for his professional debut.

Graeme McDowell will get Ireland’s challenge at the 2014 Masters up and running tomorrow at Augusta National when he tees off in the opening round of the year’s first major championship at 2.35pm Irish time.

Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards wants Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan and The Island’s Gavin Moynihan to be his silent assassins when they defend the trophy in New York in less than three weeks’ time.

Matthew Fitzpatrick did not get his wish to meet Tiger Woods during the 142nd Open Championship trophy ceremony, not that the Sheffield teenager failed to keep up his end of the bargain.