Ireland's hopes of completing a hat-trick of wins over Sweden in their annual Seniors' International fixture were drowned at Massereene's 16th hole yesterday as the visitors went on to win the two-day event by a single point.

After Monday's foursomes and four-ball action, Ireland led by a point, but they lost the singles 5-3 to give the new European Champions, Sweden, an 8 1/2 - 7 1/2 overall result.

In yesterday's singles, the visitors won the top four singles. But Bob Wallace, John Doyle and Sean Coyne all chalked up home wins to level the argument, and everything depended on the last battle between Bernard Rogers and Lars Tillman.

This was a tight struggle all the way, but Rogers was one down after 15 holes. He then drove into water at the 16th to go two down and could only manage a half at the 17th to end the match and give Sweden overall victory.