Lowry, Caldwell set up tasty battle

Irish Amateur Close:Shane Lowry and Jonathan Caldwell will meet in the semi-finals of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close at Cork today.

Both are on the form of their lives, and with each as eager as the other to bring on the biggest challenge of their amateur careers, some spectacular golf is sure to be on show at Little Island.

"I'm really looking ahead to it now," said 23-year-old Clandeboye man Caldwell. "He must be playing really good golf, but so am I and I think it's going to be a great match."

Earlier in the competition the Walker Cup panellist felt his game was coming together well, but he added another dimension to that yesterday as he holed some exceptional putts to command a five-up lead after 11 against Fergal Rafferty of Dungannon.

"My long game has been very good for a while now and with a good long game on this course you'll find yourself with a few nice wedge or nine-iron shots for your second. It leaves you in a good position to make birdies."

Lowry, despite losing his clubs at the East of Ireland in Baltray, has also been on terrific form, despite borrowed clubs.

"I'm actually getting used to the clubs now," said the Esker Hills man, "I might have a word with Stephen Grant, who gave me a lend of them."

Newlands man Cian Curley caused another upset when he knocked out home player Gary O'Flaherty in front of a large club support.

But the stocky 21-year-old has been confident this week, and, after disposing of East of Ireland champion Richard Kilpatrick, he thinks he can go all the way.

Niall Turner of Muskerry is the other semi-finalist and he will take on Curley this morning after beating Neil O Briain of Royal Dublin 2 and 1.