DEPRIVING England of another couple of under 19 titles might take something approaching a miracle at the Home Internationals in Belfast this weekend, but the hosts will still be hoping for a good showing, particularly in the boys' event where they aim to jump from fourth to second place.
The arrival of English born Patrick Foster on the scene here has given the side a considerable boost. With several of last year's side - including Anthony Frahill, Brian O'Hora and Keith Moran - still eligible, Ireland should provide a much stronger challenge.
There is a certain amount of satisfaction with a draw that sets the locals against the favourites this evening while saving their potentially more important matches until tomorrow.
"We're fairly sure we won't beat England so there is no real pressure on the lads there but it means that the Scots and Welsh are going to be battling it out with sides who have either battled hard for a win or are slightly demoralised by a defeat," says team coach Eoin Ryan.
There is good reason for the pessimism surrounding the match against England. They have a powerful team led by Marcus Cowie, who recently made it to the final of the British Junior Open. But Ryan feels that the inclusion of Foster, his Manchester Northern clubmate, enables the team to aim seriously at reversing last year's defeat by Wales and Scotland.
"Patrick's added a bit of spice to the whole thing and the whole team has been lifted by getting to play against him and by just feeling themselves that they have a better chance. This is also the best prepared team I've worked with for a few years now and, while Matthew Benjamin is strong at one for Wales, every one of the other matches is going to be close," says Ryan.
In the girls' competition the continuing improvement of Madeline Perry of Banbridge, who played her way into contention for a first senior cap by reaching the semi finals at the nationals, has been a welcome development over the year. But the home team has been hit by the unavailability of Ann Marie Sheedy and number one Anna McGeever.
Sheedy has missed much of the season through injury while McGeever has examinations at the University of Limerick today and Monday and, in their absence, any serious challenge to an English team that includes players of the calibre of Tracey Shenton, Tania Bailey and Janie Thacker is pretty much out of the question.
Thacker, in fact, was only beaten in the Ulster Open by Aisling McArdle after she had reached the final with a number of straight sets victories over leading Irish seniors and she, along with several of her teammates, is likely to prosper on her return to the Belfast Boat Club.
The Irish, who must wait to see if Emma Chambers is fit, will, despite their difficulties, be confident of beating the Welsh to at least repeat the third place they achieved last January. The match against the Scots tomorrow morning will be something of an unknown quantity with the visitors having had a major turnover of players at this level since last year's competition.
