Michael McGeady finished in the top 20 in last week's Italian Open

Derryman Michael McGeady has been handed a late invite to this week's 3 Irish Open at Baltray.

McGeady benefited from John Daly's runner-up finish at the Italian Open, which freed up a sponsor's invitation earmarked for the American.

Daly's Milan finish earned the two-time major winner an automatic Baltray spot.

Challenge Tour player McGeady also produced promising form in Italy with his share of 17th place his best finish on the main Tour.

McGeady missed out on a European Tour card by only one shot last November when he bogeyed the closing hole at the Tour School.

Others to receive sponsors invitations for this week's £2.68m event at Baltray include another Northern Irishman Jonathan Caldwell plus Noel Fox and European Senior Tour player Des Smyth.

Open champion Padraig Harrington leads a strong home entry which also includes Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

Other big names chasing the first prize of just under £450,000 include Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross Fisher, Jose-Maria Olazabal and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

Rory McIlroy will be partnered by Colin Montgomerie over his first two rounds

Oliver Wilson is a fitness doubt for the Irish event after a recurrence of an old neck injury forced him out of The Players Championship last week.

Wilson is getting physio on the injury after travelling to Dublin but the Ryder Cup is not sure if he will be able to compete on Thursday.

Clarke, McDowell and McIlroy will all have early starts on Thursday.

Struggling Clarke will tee off at 0740 BST alongside Daniel Vanczik and Thomas Levet, who have won the last two European Tour events.

McDowell will go out alongside Jose Maria Olazabal and Ross Fisher 10 minutes later while the very next three-ball features McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and defending Irish Open champion Richard Finch.

Gareth Maybin opens his challenge at 1230 alongside David Howell and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.

Paul McGinley (1250) is paired alongside John Daly and fitness-permitting Oliver Wilson while Harrington starts his tournament 10 minutes later with Westwood and Jimenez.

Recent Portugal Open winner Michael Hoey will tee up alongside Thomas Bjorn and Peter Lawrie.

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