Sport

Bowden and McNamara set to make Home debuts

Greg Bowden of Hermitage and Limerick's Cian McNamara are new caps on the Ireland team that will defend the Home International…

Shay Keenan
Tue Aug 24 2004 - 01:00

Greg Bowden of Hermitage and Limerick's Cian McNamara are new caps on the Ireland team that will defend the Home International title at Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland, from September 8th-10th.

Bowden, who won the Mullingar Scratch Cup earlier this month, was twice runner-up earlier in the season at the West and South of Ireland Championships, losing to McNamara in the final of the latter at Lahinch, while the Limerick player also won the Munster Youths' and Leinster Boys' titles earlier in the season.

The Ireland team shows five changes from that which won the Home International for the first time since 1991 at Ballybunion last year. Out of the side go Johnny Foster (due to join the professional ranks), Justin Kehoe and Colm Moriarty (professional), Mervyn Owens (Mallow) and Galway's Mark O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan is named as reserve while into the team come last year's reserve Richard Kilpatrick from Banbridge. There are recalls for Seán McTernan (Co Sligo) and Michael Sinclair (Knock).

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Walker Cup star Noel Fox is included in the 11-man team, along with the East of Ireland champion Mark Campbell, World University champion Darren Crowe, Gareth Maybin, Irish Close champion Brian McElhinney and Michael McGeady.

The Ireland women's team shows three change from last year's successful side at Cruden Bay for this year's Home International at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, from September 8th-10th

Irish Close champion Deirdre Smith (Co Louth) is recalled while there's a first senior cap for Galway's Sinéad O'Sullivan. Martina Gillen, who was unavailable last year because of commitments at Kent State University, is also recalled. Out of the team go Maria Dunne, Sinéad Keane and Heather Nolan.

Meanwhile, Coughlan is one of six Curtis Cup players in the starting field of 118 for the British Women's Strokeplay Championship that will be played at Alwoodley GC starting tomorrow.

Other Curtis Cup players hoping to add to their collection of silverware are Shelley McKevitt, the winner of the 2003 championship, Emma Duggleby, Anna Highgate, Fame More and Nicola Timmins.

It is the first time Alwoodley Golf Club has hosted the British Women's Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship, although it is no stranger to major events.

It was there, in 1971, that Mickey Walker won the first of her two back-to-back British Women's Amateur titles, and in 1967 and 1987 it was the venue for the English Womens' Close Amateur Championship.

Apart from Coughlan, Ireland will have six other players in the field including Gillen, Dunne, Gillian O'Leary (Cork), Sue Philips (Woodbrook), Marian Riordan (Tipperary) and Catherine Tucker (Limerick).

England have named a team full of surprises for Royal Porthcawl. Fame More, Nikki Timmins and Shelley McKevitt, all of whom played in this year's Curtis Cup team at Formby, have not been selected.

More has made no secret of the fact she intends joining the paid ranks but there has been no advance warning that McKevitt, was contemplating a similar move.

Only three members of last year's England team are in the line-up. Curtis Cup veteran Emma Duggleby, Kerry Smith, who played in the 2002 Curtis Cup match, and Sophie Walker, beaten semi-finalist in this year's British Women's Open Amateur Championship at Gullane.

The five new caps are: Lisa Ball, Naomi Edwards, Stirling University student Alex Marshall, Julie Ross and Faye Sanderson. The team will be captained by Beverley New.

The Irish take on Canada in Hamilton, Ontario without the services of Rory McIlroy, the Irish Boys' and Youths' champion. McIlroy is a member of the European Junior Ryder Cup team to play the USA which clashes with the Ireland/Canada match.

IRELAND MEN (Home Internationals, Prestwick, Scotland, September 8th-10th): Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Seán McTernan (County Sligo), Michael Sinclair (Knock). Non-travelling reserves: Mark O'Sullivan (Galway) and Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) Captain: Mark Gannon (Co Louth).

IRELAND WOMEN (Home Internationals, Royal Porthcawl GC, September 8th-10th) is: Claire Coughlan (Cork), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Helen Jones (Strabane), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Sinéad O'Sullivan (Galway) and Deirdre Smith (Co Louth).

IRELAND BOYS (v Canada, Hamilton, Ontario, September 7th-9th) is: Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Simon Gallivan (Killarney), Simon Ward (Co Louth), Karl Gilbert (Malone), Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas ), Christopher Hughes (Royal Portrush), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) and Michael Mulryan (Athenry). Captain: Ciarán Burke (City of Derry).