GOLF: Ireland finished a hugely disappointing Mens' Amateur Home International golf championship at Royal St David's, Harlech yesterday with the wooden spoon after being overwhelmed 10-5 by England.
Having been beaten the previous day by Wales after managing only a share of the spoils with Scotland on day one, Ireland knew they had to beat England to avoid bottom place in the international table - but this was never really on the cards.
England were like a wounded animal determined to finish on a high note after disappointing defeats by both Wales and Scotland - and they certainly took out their anger on the Irish players.
Ireland could manage just one foursomes point with Portmarnock's Noel Fox and Andrew McCormick winning on the home green against Oliver Wilson and David Skinns.
It was only a matter of how many England would win by. In the top match Ireland's outstanding performer of the year Colm Moriarty was never in front against Walker Cup man Jamie Elson although it was tight all the way but Elson, having been pegged back to level with three to play in a game of high quality, edged to the front again with a birdie three at the 17th and a par at the last got him home.
Elson was round in three under 66 - one stroke better than Moriarty.
England's top player Gary Wolstenholme, who was bound to react after his mauling the previous day at the hands of Stuart Wilson, defeated Justin Kehoe 3 and 1 again in a game in which he was never behind.
Ballyclare's Gareth Maybin halted the rot as he defeated Graeme Clark 3 and 1 but subsequent defeats for Sean McTernan, John McGinn and Daren Crowe meant the end of the road for the Irish.
At the bottom of the order Stuart Paul and Andrew McCormick won their matches but it was too little too late.
Irish Captain Eddie Dunne was naturally disappointed with the final outcome of the round robin series and said "The scene was really set for what happened when we failed to beat Scotland on the first day.
"It was tight against Wales but they just got the better of us. Some of our players performed below their best and today in the match against England, they were well beaten."
Meanwhile Wales won the title for the first time in the 70 year history of the competition when they defeated Scotland 9-6. The Scots took the runners-up spot with England third and Ireland last.
IRELAND 5 ENGLAND 10 (Irish names first) Fouresomes: C Moriarty and J Kehoe lost to J Elson and G Wolstenholme 6 and 5, K Kearney and S McTernan lost to G Clark and R Walker 4 and 3, N Fox and A McCormick bt O Wilson and D Skimms 1 hole, J McGinn and G Maybin lost to L Corfield and J Lupton 6 and 5, S Paul and P Dooley lost to R Finch and Y Ali 5 and 4. (Foursomes result: Ireland 1 England 4). Singles: Moriarty lost to Elson 1 hole, Kehoe lost to Wolstenholme 2 and 1, Maybin bt Clark 3 and 1, McTernan lost to Walker 5 and 4, Dooley halved with Z Scotland, Fox halved with Wilson, McGinn lost to Ali 6 and 4, D Crowe lost to Corfield 4 and 2, Paul bt Lupton 2 and 1, McCormick bt Fitch 5 and 4 (Singles result: Ireland 4 England 6).
