April Event

Rivalry Update: Padraig Burke is starting to feel the heat early—he’s just carded a double bogey on Hole 1 and sits 5th with 0 points so far.

In this matchup, the battle isn’t just about who hits it best—it’s about who stays composed when the pressure rises. Burke’s early wobble puts him on the back foot against his rival, where every misstep becomes a statement.

Round trend: Declining—and right now, that’s the kind of swing that can widen the gap in a rivalry if he can’t steady the ship quickly.

Paddy Power – Tournament Odds Update

1st (Liam Rockall -1 after 1): 7/4

2nd (Tom Curtin E after 1): 9/2

3rd (Daire Greene +1 after 1): 6/1

4th (Ciaran Considine +2 after 1): 7/1

Back-end chatter (incl. Brendan Considine +2 after 9): Brendan Considine 14/1

Commentary: With Brendan Considine sitting 4th on 16 points after a bogey at the 9th and a declining round trend, he’s got work to do to climb—odds suggest he’ll be in the mix early doors, but the finish looks more likely to be shaped by Liam Rockall and Tom Curtin if they can keep the pressure on. I fancy a slow-burn fight at the top rather than a blowout.

Paddy Power Market (Tournament Odds) — latest as the leaderboard stands after Hole 9.

1) Liam Rockall (−1 after 1) — 2/1
Rockall looks like the class of the field early doors and he’s got the momentum to turn this into a runaway.

2) Tom Curtin (E after 1) — 5/2
Can’t ignore the steadiness—if he keeps things tidy, he’ll be right there at the finish.

3) Stevie Geraghty (E after 0) — 7/1
Level par isn’t a bad place to be—watch for a late push if the scoring opens up.

4) Danny Finn (E after 0) — 10/1
Still within range and one good stretch could swing it his way.

5) Ryan Kelly (+4 after 9, 7th) — 25/1
Had a bogey on 9 and the round trend is declining. He’ll need a couple of bounce-back holes to climb into anything meaningful.

How it might finish: My money still stays with Rockall or Curtin. If the early leaders keep their nerve, it could end up as a tight two-horse job—Kelly looks more like he’ll fight for pride on the back nine rather than the win.

Paddy Power Latest Tourney Odds (Outright)

With the leaderboard still thin after the early stages, here’s how the bookies price it right now:

• Liam Rockall — 4/1 (−1 after 1). Early front-running form and plenty of momentum.
• Tom Curtin — 9/2 (E after 1). Solid start; if he keeps it tidy, he’s right in the shake-up.
• Brendan Considine — 8/1 (+1 after 8). Big hole count already—can he keep the pressure on at the top?
• Daire Greene — 10/1 (+1 after 1). One to watch if the birdie chances keep coming.
• Dave Flanagan — 12/1 (+2 after 9). A bogey on 9 and a declining trend, but he’s still positioned to kick on.
• Ciaran Considine — 14/1 (+2 after 1). Same score band as Flanagan—could be lurking for a late surge.
• Ryan Kelly — 16/1 (+3 after 8). Needs a cleaner run, but the start isn’t dead yet.
• Padraig Burke — 18/1 (E after 0). At even par, he’s capable of sudden improvement.
• Evan O'Keeffe — 18/1 (E after 0). Fresh legs—dangerous if the putter wakes up.
• Tony McHale — 20/1 (E after 0). Could sneak into contention if the scoring holds.

How we think it finishes: Fancy Rockall to hang onto the lead and convert—but the market’s clustered so a couple of tidy stretches could flip it quickly. If Flanagan irons out the wobble, he’s got the legs to finish inside the top group, but the bookies want to see that downward trend steadied.

Current lean: 1st = Rockall, 2nd = Curtin, 3rd = one of the Considines.

Early doors and you can already see the tempo shifting: Liam Rockall climbs to -1 after 1, while the rest are still feeling their way in. Ciaran Considine is the big mover into position—+2 after 1—and there’s a bit of a scramble at the top end with Brendan Considine up at +1 after 8, plus Dave Flanagan and Ryan Kelly both at +1 and +3 respectively, depending on where they’re at with their run.

What I like for the field is how the “steady at even par” group remains intact: Danny Finn, Oisin O’Malley and Eoghan Considine are still level after 0. That tells you there’s no runaway leader pressure just yet—one good swing, one bit of boldness, and the leaderboard can tighten up dramatically as the holes tick by.

Dan Rapaport here with a little clubhouse gossip on Ciaran Considine: the word around the practice tee is he’s been quietly tweaking his setup—more “feel” than mechanics—trying to calm the left-to-right drift off the driver. Nothing official, but when the lads watch him now, he’s spending way more time on tight-trajectory wedges than the big targets, like he’s already accepted the course is going to demand patience. He’s slotted in 6th with 0 points, so don’t read the board wrong—this is the kind of start where a hungry putter and a cleaner miss could flip his week fast. Keep an eye on his warm-up: if he starts drawing lines with that grindy, low-spinner approach, it’s a sign he’s locked in.

Oi Ciaran Considine… starting Hole 1 with a double bogey like you’re trying to skip warm-ups. 🥲

Now you’re +2 through 1 and positioned P6… mate, I’ve seen better course management from a tourist holding a sandwich instead of a wedge. 😤⛳️

Ciaran Considine is starting this round in a tough spot, converting Hole 1 into a double bogey and sitting 6th with the momentum declining. This kind of early stumble is where rivalries get exposed—because when Considine is forced to chase, his matchups with top rivals become a test of patience under pressure.

Right now, the rivalry dynamic is simple: the player standing across the fairway from him will be looking to widen the gap early, while Considine’s next job is stabilization—keep the ball in play, rebuild the scoring chances, and stop the damage from snowballing.

Nick Dougherty: Tom Curtin gets the round rolling nicely—hole one played to par, and right now he’s sitting second on two points. You can like the look of this start; it’s tidy, controlled stuff, and with the round trend moving in the right direction, he’ll be thinking, “Keep it simple, keep it straight.”

From here, it’s all about backing that calm start up—no need to chase, just give yourself chances.

Well, Liam Rockall has absolutely started the day on a sweet note! From the very first tee he’s landed a birdie, and after Hole 1 he’s sitting 1st with 3 points on the board. That’s one under early doors—exactly the sort of momentum you want when the course is asking questions.

And you can see the trend too: improving rhythm, clean intent—let’s see if he can keep that calm going as the holes stack up.

Rivalry Update: Liam Rockall has started with a birdie on Hole 1, moving into 1st place with 3 points and a clear improving round trend. It’s the kind of fast start that really feeds the spotlight—especially when you’re chasing bragging rights in a head-to-head battle.

Rockall’s early momentum puts immediate pressure on his rival: respond quickly, or he’ll dictate the rhythm from the first few holes onward.

Next move: Keep turning good golf into consistent scoring—this rivalry always rewards the player who avoids slips when the tension builds.

Alrighto, you’ve seen plenty happen over the last two holes and the picture’s pretty clear: Brendan Considine steadied himself nicely, flipping things from a bogey at 7 to a birdie at 8, and he’s hanging around at +1. Dave Flanagan followed a similar early bump, but he came back with a par at 8 after that bogey, so he too’s +1—not too much damage, just solid damage control. Now Ryan Kelly is the one who’s had a bit more movement: he’s been birdie-bogey-ing the last two, climbing to +3 overall, and he’s still got that punchy feel if he can turn one more chance into points.

Brendan Considine just pops it in for birdie on Hole 8—and from where he started, this is the kind of momentum you can really build on.

He’s currently sitting 2nd on 15 points, and the round trend is declining, which means the scores are trending the right way. Keep attacking the right gaps, Brendan—this could be a very comfortable position if he stays patient.

Rivalry update: Brendan Considine is seizing the momentum in this head-to-head, and it feels like the kind of chess match he loves. After birdie on Hole 8, he’s sitting in the 2nd spot on 15 points, with the round trend continuing to decline—meaning his numbers are trending sharper, not sloppier.

In this rivalry, the swing factor is consistency under pressure: Considine is forcing his opponent to answer quickly, because every time he gains a stroke or two, he turns the match into a must-make scenario. Right now, that pressure is on.

Ryan Kelly just worked his way through Hole 8 for a bogey — moving things to +3 overall. He’s currently sitting 3rd, and you can see that round trend starting to bend in the right direction, even if that little wobble keeps him honest.

Now it’s all about controlling the damage: give yourself a proper look at the next green, keep the momentum, and don’t let one missed swing turn into a streak.

Hole 8 — and Dave Flanagan walks it in for par… steady stuff. He’s still perched in 1st, on 15 points, and the round trend is continuing to head the right way.

That’s exactly the kind of composed golf you want at this stage: no drama, no detour—just keep the scoreboard honest.

Brendan Considine rolls in a bogey on Hole 7 to move things along at +2 overall. The momentum’s still there—he’s sitting 3rd with 12 points—and the round trend remains declining, which is the kind of stability you want as you push through the middle stretch.

Ryan Kelly has just ticked another brilliant box on Hole 7—a birdie to move into the 1st spot.

You can feel the momentum swinging his way now. With 14 total points on the board and that round trend looking up, he’s playing with confidence—putting himself under real pressure for the rest of the field.

Keep finding the fairway, keep giving himself those chances—because right now, he’s in the driver’s seat.

Rivalry Update: Ryan Kelly has stamped his authority at the top—he’s just rolled in a birdie on Hole 7 to move into 1st with 14 points.

In this matchup, the rivalry has become a battle of timing: one swing can flip the momentum, and Ryan is clearly finding his rhythm. With his round trend improving, he’s pressing the gap and forcing his rival to react rather than dictate.

Next step: keep the pressure on early, because when Ryan’s putting starts clicking, he’s hardest to catch in the stretch.

Dave Flanagan picks up a bogey on Hole 7—a bit of a stumble, but he’s still in the mix. He’s 3rd on the leaderboard, sitting on 13 points, and the round trend is still heading in the right direction, with momentum that’s starting to slip into his favour.

That +1 won’t define the afternoon—watch how he responds over the next stretch. If he can tidy his scoring from here, he’ll be back right up at the sharp end.