Harrington hopeful home squad can end a 21-year losing streak

ANOTHER Irish Open, another week of pressure on the Irish lads to break the sorry sequence.

21 years and counting since John O'Leary's triumph in 1982. 21 years since Irish hands last hoisted that prized trophy.

Not the sort of coming-of-age anyone on this island wants to see marked in Portmarnock this week, but with over a dozen Irish in the field perhaps half-a-dozen with a realistic eye on the prize chances are good that we won't. Joint bookie's favourite among those Irish, and, joint favourites overall, are Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington and the latter is especially bullish about Irish chances.