NEWLY PROMOTED Ireland secured their place in the European Team Badminton championships with a 5-0 win over Iceland at Herning in Denmark yesterday.

With victory against Austria behind them, they lie second to undefeated Wales in their section at the end of round robin tournament play.

Today Ireland play a strong Bulgarian side for 11th place overall in the European rankings, knowing that win or lose they leave Denmark with their highest placing in more than a decade.

Elaine Kiely relaxed, and into her play for the first time played an important part as Ireland won the mixed doubles against Iceland 17-15, 15-8.

With Michael O'Meara upping the pace from the back court, the Irish pair held on to win a first game after their 14-10 lead had been whittled away. Then they raced to victory from 7-10 down in the second.

A change of pace gave Sonya McGinn an 11-6, 11-0 singles victory and Michael Watt fired up and chasing everything played, what he called his "best in years" towin, his singles 15-5, 15-6.

Ireland stood three matches up, out of five and the rest seemed a formality.

But McGinn and Kiely had to fight for a women's doubles victory, which they secured 15-12 18-17.

O'Meara and Bruce Topping out to keep their unbeaten record this weekend provided a grandstand finish. They won a furious sweat raising three game match which went all the way to the line 15-10,10-15, 18-16.