Paul Gallagher at Carton House

22/05/2005:  For the second week in a row David Howell found himself on the receiving end of a play-off as Welshman Stephen Dodd edged the Nissan Irish Open at the first sudden-death hole at Carton House.

Howell, who lost out to Thomas Bjorn in the Daily Telegraph Dunlop Masters last week, holed a gutsy 12-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to force extra time.

Dodd shot 68 to Howell's 70 to tie on nine under 279 but it was Dodd's birdie at the par five 18th - the first play-off hole - which earned him the €333,330 winner's cheque. Howell pushed his approach shot into thick rough right of the elevated green and was unable to get up and down.

"Last week I was gutted at losing but today I'm not," said Howell putting a brave face on it. "This time I needed a strong finish just to get into the play-off, I was proud to play the last four holes in three under just to make the play-off."

"Still, I put myself in position two weeks running and I'm sure I'll be able to knock one off one day soon."

The win is Dodd's second tour title of the season having secured the China Open at the end of 2004. It is also the ninth time a play-off has been needed to decide the outcome of the Irish Open.

After I did it once, I wanted to do it again," said Dodd afterwards.  "I feel for David, he must be disappointed, but he just has to be patient. His time will come."

Argentina's Angel Cabrera (68) and overnight leader Nick Dougherty (74) tied for third two shots back on seven under.

Padraig Harrington (69) ended up tied fifth on six under and afterwards said he was "surprised" to have finished so close to the leaders. The world number nine holed his bunker shot at the short par four 13th for eagle and at that point looked to have a slim chance of winning. However, an unlikely bogey at the par five 15th put paid to those dreams despite making birdies on the closing two holes.

Colm Moriarty put in a great performance when playing on a sponsor's invite this week. The Athlone pro, who competes on the Challenge Tour, closed with a two under 70 for a three under 285 aggregate. That was good enough to tie 13th and pick up a cheque for €30,100.

"I have been swinging the club well recently but haven't got the results I feel I deserve," said Moriarty, who now has four flights ahead of him to tee it up in a Challenge Tour event in Morocco. "It was real team effort this week, my coach Brendan McDaid and Liam Moggan instilled a lot of confidence and Damian Kelly, a good friend, did a great job on the bag."

It was news of a different sort for Paul McGinley as the affable Dubliner struggled to hide the disappointment of his tournament, which frittered away since doing himself an injury on the back nine on Saturday.

"I got myself into a great position after two rounds then things conspired against me," said the deflated Dubliner who injured a tendon trying to pitch out of deep rough at the 13th. "I was right in the middle of things after 12 holes yesterday then it all went pear-shaped at the end."

Credit to McGinley though, he wouldn't cite the injury as an excuse because he said his wrist was fine today. Rather it was the putting that let him down.

"No excuses, I shot two 74s (to finish one over) which is just not good enough at this level. Things didn't go for me over the weekend there's no doubt about that. I've just got to hang in there."

McGinley will have a precautionary X-ray in London tomorrow then rest for a couple of days before next week's BMW Championship at Wentworth. McGinley's Surrey neighbour Darren Clarke had a mundane final round 72 to finish on two under.

Course designer Colin Montgomerie signed off his week with a 70 for a 289 one over total. Any chance Monty had of winning a fourth Irish Open title went up in smoke with Saturday's 75, but the Scot will feel satisfied with his first course design venture in Ireland. Consensus from his peers this week has been that the course is extremely demanding but fair. At least they'll know it better when the Irish Open returns next year.

Peter Lawrie completed his tournament with a 71 to be two over overall, one ahead of David Higgins who shot 73. Gary Murphy dropped back to six over after a 76, the same mark as Kilkenny club pro Jimmy Bolger (77).