McElroy favourite for Mullingar test

Dermot McElroy driving on the 11th tee during the first round of the 2013 Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin. Picture by Pat CashmanHeadfort’s Brian Casey won’t be defending his title but a host of top players will still be chasing their place in the history books in this weekend’s Mullingar Scratch Cup.

Casey will tee it up in the clashing Welsh Amateur Open alongside the likes of Richie O’Donovan, Harry Diamond, Rory McNamara, Jack Hume, Ian Brennan, Matt McAlpin, Eugene Smith and Jeff Hopkins.

Cavan’s Eddie McCormack is also out with an injury but there’s no shortage of quality players keen to join some of the greats on the roll of honour, including Mullingar stalwart Des Morgan and recently crowned Irish Amateur Open champion Robbie Cannon.

Bookies Paddy Power have installed Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy, who missed out on a place in the Irish Amateur Open playoff by just one shot, as the 6/1 favourite ahead.

Morgan, who is returning to action after time out recovery from surgery, is the next best with the oddsmakers at 8/1 to end a 50-year wait for a home winner with 2011 champion Nicky Grant a 10/1 chance ahead of Castlerock’s Aaron Kearney.

Sponsored by Barber Pole Putters and Copper Face Jacks, the top 45 after the first two rounds will tee it up in the final 36 holes on Sunday.

Mullingar Scratch Trophy 2013

Tee-times Saturday May 18th

6.22/11.22 C Dunphy (Killeen Castle) M Murphy (Co Longford) M Kelly (Mullingar)

6.30/11.30 C Stone (Carton House) B.McCormack (Castlebearna) S Maloney (Dunmurry Springs)

6.38/11.38 P O’Leary (Lucan) M O’Rourke (Royal Tara) D Murray (Co Louth)

6.46/11.46 D Reidy (Co Sligo) N Worth (The Island) L Grehan (Mullingar)

6.54/11.54 S Cullen (Slieve Russell) P Neville (Athenry) B Mungovan (Headfort)

7.02/12.02 P Coughlan (Moate) C Tormey (Mullingar) D McDonough (Galway)

7.10/12.10 T McLarnon (Masserene) L McMillan (Carton House) P Burke (Mullingar)

7.18/12.18 P Connolly (Clontarf) D Carey (Carton House) J Conroy (Bray)

7.26/12.26 N McGlynn (Carton House) C Dullaghan (Greenore) E Farrell (Ardee)

7.34/12.34 W Hanna (Warrenpoint) M Richards (Roganstown) D Coughlan (Portmarnock)

7.42/12.42 J Rackard (Bunclody) J Walsh (Castle) J Timlin (Dungannon)

7.50/12.50 S Moran (Carton House) M McCusker (Hollywood) B McGarry (Birr)

7.58/12.58 S O’Connor (Luttrelstown) J Whelan (Newlands) J Gourley (Hollywood)

8.06/1.06 C Rafferty (Greenore) A Hanley (Royal Dublin) T O’Connor (Athlone)

8.14/1.14 S Bryan (Delgany) S Brady (Co Sligo) H Coyne (Carton House)

8.22/1.22 R Symington (Lisburn) D Shaw (Belvoir Park) C Geraghty (Laytown & Bettystown)

8.30/1.30 S McGlynn (Carton House) A Thomas (Dungarvan) S Carter (Stackstown)

8.38/1.38 J Fox (Portmarnock) A Kearney (Castlerock) C Fairweather (Knock)

8.46/1.46 B McSweeney (Royal Dublin) S Ward (Co Louth) C Doran (Banbridge)

8.54/1.54 D Morgan (Mulingar) A Hogan (Newlands) R Cannon (Balbriggan)

9.02/2.02 D McElroy (Ballymena) N Grant (Knock) S Grehan (Tullamore)

9.10/2.10 J Lyons (Galway) A Purdy (Ballyclare) J Monaghan (Royal Dublin)

9.18/2.18 G Lenehan (Portmarnock) C McKenna (Mallow) M Shanahan (Castlemartyr)

9.26/2.26 A Doran (Ardee) R Walsh (Kilkenny) B Fennelly (Royal Dublin)

9.34/2.34 C Purcell (Portmarnock) J.R Galbraith (Whitehead) S Ryan (Royal Dublin)

9.42/2.42 G Bohill (Co Louth) R Bridges (Stakstown) R Knightly (Royal Dublin)

9.50/2.50 G O’Connor (Malahide) S Healy (Claremorris) A Kiernan (Forest Little)

9.58/2.58 S Hogan (Nenagh) K Purcell (Dun Laoighre) A Grant (Dundalk)

10.06/3.06 G Lawlor (Newbridge) L Hutchinson (Royal Dublin) B Lupo (Sutton)

10.14/3.14 D Holland (Castle) C Kennedy (Forest Little) C McGrogan (Newbridge)