Honourable defeats? No, you need to move it on

FOR the first two days spectators scampered around Killeen to catch a glimpse of Irish golf’s market leaders, but it’s the new breed who carry a share of the expectation into the Irish Open weekend.

With Pádraig Harrington and Darren Clarke slamming car boots last night, the galleries will flock around Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in today’s third round. But it has been a significant couple of days too for Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey and another arc in the learning curve for the likes of Michael Collins, John Kelly and Noel Fox.

Collins, 31, who plays out of the Mallow Golf Range in north Cork, battled admirably yesterday before bowing out on four over par. His demeanour said it all walking off the 18th.