IRISH WOMEN'S CLOSE:DESPITE A day of horrendous weather, Carlow's Karen Delaney made steady progress in the Lancôme Irish Women's Close Championship defeating Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) 5 and 4 in yesterday's second round.

Delaney will take on Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), who won the championship at The Island in 2004, in this morning’s quarter-final.

Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) caused the upset of the day in beating reigning champion Mary Dowling.

On paper the match was likely to be a tight encounter, and it was, but Reid had a two hole advantage at the turn and held on to win on the 17th.

Danielle McVeigh has progressed steadily all week. Coming from Newcastle, Co Down, she is certainly used to windy conditions and crushed Louise Coffey by winning the first four holes.

In conditions where it was hard to judge club selection, McVeigh got it spot on and earned a well-deserved quarter-final berth against Louise Mernagh.

The latter, despite being four down after four, edged out Chloe Ryan, winning at the first tie hole.

SECOND ROUND:Karen Delaney (Carlow) bt Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park) 5 and 4; Alison Taylor (Malahide) lost to Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) 4 and 3; Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush) bt Mary Dowling (New Ross) 2 and 1; Patrice Delaney (Birr) bt Helen Jones (Strabane) 1up; Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) bt Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) on 19th; Danielle McVeigh (RCDL) bt Louise Coffey (Malone) 7 and 6; Gillian O'Leary (Cork) lost to Aedin Murphy (Carlow) 1up; Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny) bt Sarah Murray (Co Louth) 6 and 5.

Today's Quarter-finals:9.0: Delaney v Smith; 9.09: Reid v Delaney; 9.18: Mernagh v McVeigh; 9:27: Murphy v Power.