Ireland followed-up their morning foursomes success with a draw in the singles to defeat Wales (8-7) overall on the opening day of the Men's Home Internationals in Ballybunion today.
Walker Cup winner Noel Fox and South of Ireland Champion Mervyn Owens put Ireland's first points on the board with a narrow one hole win in the top match as the host country won the foursomes series 3-2.
European Amateur strokeplay champion Brian McElhinney teamed-up with Darren Crowe in the second match and secured a convincing 6&5 win. Justin Kehoe and Mark Campbell got Ireland's third and decisive point by winning the fourth match by one hole.
Mark O'Sullivan and Michael McGeady lost 4&2 while Johnny Foster and Richard Kilpatrick lost 4&2 in the last match.
In the afternoon singles Ireland drew 5-5 with Wales to secure the narrow 8-7 first day win at the Co Kerry links.
Wins for Fox (3&2), Crowe (3&2), McGeady (5&3), Michael Sinclair (1 hole) and halves by McElhinney and Campbell sealed a good day's work for Ireland.
In today's other match England and Scotland were in stalemate as they finished the day level on 7½ points apiece. England took the initiative 3-2 in the foursomes but Scotland came back to win the singles 5½-4½.
Today's Results
Day One
Wales 7 Ireland 8
Foursomes:
(Wales Names First)
James Williams & Tim Dykes lost to Noel Fox & Mervyn Owens 1 Hole; GarethWright & David Price lost to Brian McElhinney & Darren Crowe 6/5; CennyddMills & Craig Smith bt Mark O'Sullivan & Michael McGeady 4/2; Alex Smith &Rhys Davies lost to Justin Kehoe & Mark Campbell 1 Hole; Lee Harpin &Llewellyn Mathews bt John Foster & Richard Kilpatrick 4/2.
Result of Foursomes: Wales 2 Ireland 3
Singles:
James Williams lost to Noel Fox 3/2; Gareth Wright halved with BrianMcElhinney; David Price bt Mark O'Sullivan 3/2; Alex Smith lost to DarrenCrowe 3/2; Rhys Davies bt Justin Kehoe 3/2; Cennydd Mills lost to MichaelMcGeady 5/3; Craig Smith lost to Michael Sinclair 1 Hole; Lee Harpin btJohn Foster 3/2; Tim Dykes bt Mervyn Owens 2Holes; Richard Scott halvedwith Mark Campbell
Result of Singles: Wales 5 Ireland 5
Scotland 7 1/2 England 7 1/2
Foursomes:
(Scotland Names First)
Stuart Wilson & Jonathan King lost to Gary Wolstenholme & Ross Fisher 4/3;Andrew McArthur & Craig Watson bt Michael Skelton & David Skinns 4/3;Jamie McLeary & Eric Ramsay halved with Colin Edwards & James Heath; BryanInnes & Glen Campbell lost to John Kemp & Paul Bradshaw 1 Hole; SimonMackenzie & Martin Laird halved with Richard Walker & Graeme Clark
Result of Foursomes: Scotland 2 England 3
Singles:
Stuart Wilson lost to Gary Lockerbie 4/3; Andrew McArthur bt MichaelSkelton 2/1; Jamie McLeary bt Ross Fisher 1 Hole; Eric Ramsay lost JamesHeath 3/2 ; Simon Mackenzie lost to Gary Wolstenholme 1 Hole; GlenCampbell bt David Skinns 2/1; Martin Laird bt John Kemp 2/1; Neil McRae btColin Edwards 4/2; Jonathan King halved with Graeme Clark; Craig Watsonlost to Richard Walker 4/2
Result of Singles: Scotland 5 1/2 England 4 1/2
Standings after Day One:
Ireland 1Scotland 1/2England 1/2Wales 0
DRAW FOR DAY TWO
Thursday 18th September - Day Two
Ireland v England
Foursomes - 7.30a.m.
(Ireland Names First)
Mark O'Sullivan & Michael McGeady v Gary Wolstenholme & Ross Fisher; NoelFox & Mervyn Owens v Graeme Clark & Richard Walker; Brian McElhinney &Darren Crowe v Gary Lockerbie & David Skinns; Michael Sinclair & RichardKilpatrick v John Kemp & Paul Bradshaw; Justin Kehoe & Mark Campbell vColin Edwards & James Heath
Singles - 12.15p.m.
Noel Fox v Gary Lockerbie; Michael McGeady v Gary Wolstenholme; BrianMcElhinney v Michael Skelton; Mervyn Owens v Richard Walker; Darren Crowev Graeme Clark; Richard Kilpatrick v James Heath; Michael Sinclair v RossFisher; Mark O'Sullivan v John Kemp; Mark Campbell v David Skinns; JustinKehoe v Paul Bradshaw
Scotland v Wales
Foursomes - 8.15a.m.
(Scotland Names First)
Andrew McArthur & Craig Watson v Gareth Wright & David Price; JamieMcLeary & Eric Ramsay v Alex Smith & Rhys Davies; Martin Laird & SimonMackenzie v Cennydd Mills & Craig Smith; Glen Campbell & Bryan Innes v LeeHarpin & Llewellyn Mathews; Jonathan King & Stuart Wilson v James Williams& Tim Dykes
Singles - 1.45p.m.
Craig Watson v Gareth Wright; Andrew McArthur v Alex Smith; Jamie McLearyv David Price; Eric Ramsay v Rhys Davies; Simon Mackenzie v Craig Smith;Martin Laird v Lee Harpin; Glen Campbell v Richard Scott; Neil McRae vJames Williams; Jonathan King v Cennydd Mills; Stuart Wilson v Tim Dykes