Golf:The Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, helped get Ireland's senior home internationals campaign off to a flying start against England today. The Slieve Russell youngsters, making their debuts in the event, won both of their matches as Ireland hammered England 8-1.
Playing together in the morning foursomes, the 15-year-olds were never behind in their match with Hannah Barwood and British champion Kelly Tidy. They took a two-hole lead at the sixth hole. Barwood and Tidy won the seventh but it was to prove their last success in the match.
The Irish pair went two up again at the 12th and three up at the 13th. Barwood and Tidy held on with halves at the 14th and 15th before the Maguires won the 16th and the match with a par.
Both carried that form into the afternoon singles, with Leona getting the better of Charlotte Ellis (5&4) and Lisa dispatching Charley Hull (4&3). All six of the Irish players won their ties in the afternoon with Gillian O’Leary from Cork also finishing the day with two points to her name.
Ireland, who failed to win a match last year in Irvine, face defending champions Wales tomorrow before taking on Scotland on Friday.
Ireland v England
Morning foursomes(Irish first)
Danielle McVeigh and Charlene Reid
lost toCharlotte Ellis and Tara Watters
6&5
Lisa Maguire and Leona Maguire
btKelly Tidy and Hannah Barwood
4&2
Gillian O'Leary and Sinead O'Sullivan
btNikki Foster and Charlie Douglass
1up
Afternoon singles(Irish first)
Danielle McVeigh
btHayley Davis
3&2
Leona Maguire
btCharlotte Ellis
5&4
Mary Dowling
btHannah Barwood
5&4
Lisa Maguire
btCharley Hull
4&3
Louise Coffey
btKelly Tidy
3&1
Gillian O'Leary
btTara Watters
5&4