Johnny Foster will be hoping for a repeat of last year when he defends his Dundalk Scratch Cup at Dundalk GC at the end of the month. Foster shot rounds of 73 and 71 to beat Liam Brady by two shots last year.

It was the beginning of a memorable year for the Banbridge player who went on to win the South of Ireland championship and to gain international recognition. This year he has taken up where he left off, with his tremendous performance in reaching the final of the Portuguese Amateur Open, and he will certainly be among the favourites at Dundalk.

Garth McGimpsey, who launched his season in Dundalk last year before going on to win the West of Ireland, is another expected to tee up at Dundalk. The local flag will again be flown by Peter Rogers, who played a major part in Louth's march to success in the Inter-County championship last month.