THE Golfing Union of Ireland last night paid tribute to new US Open champion Graeme McDowell.

SEAMUS SMITH, General Secretary of the Golfing Union of Ireland, has welcomed confirmation that members of the country’s clubs will have the chance to play in this year’s 3 Irish Open pro-am at Killarney (Wednesday, July 28).

SECOND quarter goals from Patrick Harte and debutant Aidan O’Shea were the catalyst for victory as Mayo withstood a determined New York start to earn an impressive 15-point win in the opening game of the 2009 GAA Connacht Senior Football Championship.

Mayo 2-19 New York 0-10

LIMERICK’S Pat Murray slammed conditions as unplayable with high winds sending scores soaring in the opening round of the Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin.

NEW YORK’S preparations for Sunday’s FBD Connacht League final against Galway are in turmoil following three management changes in the past month.

The head of the body, which represents the presidents of the country’s seven universities has admitted they will increasingly have to secure funds from sources other than the Exchequer.

The heads of Ireland’s universities have called for more Government funding following the publication of a study highlighting a fall in such funding between 1995 and 2001.

IT’S only when you see the fun and the action at close range that the success of the Bulmers cups and shields really strikes home.

IT isn't very often that an Irish sports person sees off the best efforts of rivals from 57 other countries, but that's what happened at Royal Musselburgh yesterday when Cian McNamara, a student at Crescent College Comprehensive and a member of Limerick Golf Club, maintained his three-stroke overnight lead to become the first Irish player to capture the R&A Junior Open Championship.