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.

IT might not have been Leaders Questions time in the Dáil but the tough grilling Taoiseach Brian Cowen faced from teenagers yesterday afternoon might have made him wish he’d stayed in Belfast.

IRELAND’S girl golfers returned home last night in jubilant mood after winning the European Team Championship in style for the first time over the Kokkola course in Finland.

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.

Ulster look to capture their third successive girls' Interprovincial title when the three-day tournament starts at Laytown/Bettystown Golf Club, Co Meath, 11-13 April 2007.

Suzuki, now in their fourth year of sponsorship, host the national finals of the Suzuki All-Ireland Ladies Golf Senior Cup at Massereene golf club, Antrim this Friday and Saturday.

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.

Carlow’s Tara Delaney sets out to capture an unprecedented third consecutive title at the Irish Open Strokeplay Championship in Rosses Point this weekend.

Defending champion and Irish international Maria Dunne (Skerries) has safely made it through to the semi-finals of the Clarins Leinster Ladies Golf Championships at Grange Golf Club.

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.

LEINSTER retained the Ladies Inter-provincial title at Royal Belfast yesterday after an exciting final round of singles matches against great rivals Munster.

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

Curtis Cup star Claire Coughlan (Cork) bowed out of the Lancome Ladies Close at Portsalon yesterday following a 2/1 defeat by the in-form Karen Delaney (Carlow).

WATERFORD IT will host this year’s Ashbourne Cup, the oldest camogie competition in existence.

BOTH the Irish mens and ladies senior golf teams show changes from the original selections for the Home International series at Ballybunion and Cruden Bay respectively.

ACE Cork golfer Claire Coughlan had a commanding seven strokes to spare as she added the Suzuki Irish Ladies Strokeplay Championship to her titles tally at Rathsallagh yesterday.

IRELAND’S hopes of winning the Ladies’ Amateur Home International golf championship for the first time for 16 years were dealt a blow yesterday when they yielded a foursomes advantage to go down 5-4 to Wales.

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.

Royal Co Down ladies take Irish Seniors title. Results below:

Leinster's ladies came top in the interprovincial series after the final days play in The Island Golf Club.

The following team will represent Ireland in the Ladies’ Home International Matches which takes place at Carlow Golf Club, from August 22-24.