If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the philosophy Willie Mullins plans to adopt as he plots Al Boum Photo’s Cheltenham Gold Cup defence.

The outstanding Tramore course once again proved a happy hunting ground for Limerick Golf Club over the weekend when they pulled off a highly impressive double in the Munster finals of the AIG Irish Senior Cup-Barton Shield and so qualified for the national finals to take place at Westport on September 20-22.

Robin Dawson picked up the biggest prize in his professional career to date and with it the motivation to make his appearances on the European Tour a lot more regular.

Barry O’Leary kept his overnight lead to clinch the Irish Seniors Close Championship at Kilkenny Golf Club, closing with a round of 72 to win by two shots.

Cork remain in the hunt for a place in the Electric Ireland Munster MHC final after an improved second half saw them past Waterford at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday evening.

Galway’s Ronan Mullarney will take a healthy four-shot lead into today’s second round at the Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship after setting the pace with a course-record and career-low 62 in Sligo.

Conor Purcell leads the Irish charge on home turf at Co Sligo as the Flogas Irish Amateur Open gets underway at Rosses Point tomorrow.

Racing TV covered its first Irish race meetings on Tuesday, Fairyhouse, and Tramore, and one has to say, it was a less than satisfactory start, writes Pat Keane.

It is the morning after the day before but Owen Byrne is out on the track, giving the place the once over.

Mount Juliet’s Gavin Moynihan remained on course to regain his card as Tramore’s Robin Dawson and Ardglass’ Cormac Sharvin kept their hopes alive with sub-70 scores in the third round of the European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in Spain.

Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy this morning begins his bid to earn a European Tour card when he tees it up in Suffolk at qualifying school.

Tramore’s Robin Dawson led from the front again as Ireland remained on track for gold medal glory at halfway in the World Amateur Team Championship at Carton House.

Shane Lowry believes Ireland can contend for Eisenhower Trophy glory providing they see playing at home as a bonus rather than a burden.

He will only be released to play in the Eisenhower Trophy or the Olympic Games - that’s the understanding between John Murphy’s college in Louisville, Kentucky and Kinsale Golf Club where the availability of this year’s St Andrews Links champion is concerned.

A scholarship-winning UCC student from Waterford, who was struggling while studying away from home, was found dead in his bedroom after taking a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs mixed with heroin.

Alex Gleeson and Rowan Lester are three strokes off the lead heading into today’s second round at the European Amateur Championship after a good opening 18 holes at Royal Hague, Netherlands.

Rowan Lester is just five shots off the lead at the 123rd Amateur Championship after a superb opening round at Murcar Links.

Cork City 3 Waterford FC 0

There’s nothing like some shiny silverware to reinforce the feeling that you’re doing things right.

Robin Dawson is determined not get ahead of himself as he takes a two-stroke lead into the third round of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open at Royal County Down.

Kilkenny teenager Mark Power is gunning to become the youngest winner of the West of Ireland since Rory McIlroy in 2006 after he completed two impressive wins on the opening day of matchplay combat at Rosses Point.

The admirable Un De Sceaux can run the opposition ragged in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon, writes Pat Keane. 

Father and son, Jimmy and Paddy Mangan, teamed up to take the most-valuable race, the Graun Hill Suite Beginners’ Chase, on yesterday’s national hunt card on a well-attended inaugural student race-day at Tramore.

It defied logic and, to use a well-worn cliché, it simply sent out the wrong message, writes Pat Keane.

The Turf Club in Ireland has asked its appeal body to review Davy Russell's caution for the treatment of a horse at Tramore "on the grounds that it was unduly lenient".

Athenry schoolboy David Kitt could become the youngest winner of the AIG Irish Amateur Close since Rory McIlroy in 2006 after cruising into the semi-finals in impressive style on a day of shocks at Galway Golf Club.

Golf

The great Lahinch links, especially when it is swept by a seriously strong wind from the Atlantic, never fails to provide great matches over the closing stages of the Pierse Motors South of Ireland Championship. 

Not a single member of one of the strongest fields to contest the Pierse Motors South of Ireland managed to break the par of 72 in yesterday’s first qualifying round of the 116th championship.

Nine of the eleven-strong Irish team that achieved a Grand Slam in last year’s Home Internationals and in the process completed a hat-trick of successes in the championship have entered for the Pierse Motors South of Ireland, starting with the first of two qualifying rounds at Lahinch next Wednesday.

Six PGA in Ireland professionals will compete at next week’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, hosted by the Rory Foundation at Portstewart.

Leading qualifier Mairead Martin (Kanturk) is safely through to the last 16 at the Irish Women’s Close Championship at Mullingar.

Caolan Rafferty showed his title credentials as he beat Frenchman David Ravetto to cruise into the last 32 of the 122nd Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich on the Kent coast.

Conor O’Rourke will spearhead the Irish attack as 16 stars travel to Scotland for the start of St Andrews Links Trophy today.

Scott Jamieson recovered from a nightmare start to his second round to claim a share of the halfway lead in the BMW PGA Championship, an event he labelled the “pinnacle” of his season.

Michael Hoey threatened to record the first 59 in European Tour history before having to settle for a share of the lead on a low-scoring first day of the Rocco Forte Open in Sicily.

Royal County Down has a habit of punishing aggression but big hitting Douglas man Peter O’Keeffe kept his love of attack in check to open with a fine 70 in the Flogas Irish Amateur Open in idyllic conditions at the firm and fast Newcastle links.

It’s the weekend between the Irish Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup, but it’s another busy and important one. I have three rides this afternoon at Fairyhouse, but it’s Douvan, in the Tied Cottage Chase tomorrow at Punchestown, who will be focus of most attention.

The split between Willie Mullins and owners Gigginstown House Stud has been well documented, but, unfortunate as it is, it has happened and we must move on from it now.

The AIG Senior Cup returned to Rosses Point on Saturday night as Co Sligo reclaimed Irish club golf’s blue riband title with a dramatic final victory over Leinster’s Castle at Carton House.

Gary O’Flaherty is hoping to crown a successful individual season by helping Cork Golf Club to an All-Ireland title.