Golf:Ireland go head to head with England in the closing match of the Boys Home Internationals for the R&A Trophy at Hankley Common in Surrey tomorrow requiring a share of the spoils to retain the title they won at Royal County Down last summer.
Ireland had a tough encounter and had to come from behind to get the better of Wales 5-4 after they had trailed 3-2 following today’s morning foursomes.
Two victories on the 18th green proved vital with Ciaran Boggan from Co Meath and Knock’s Colin Fairweather pipping Matthew Moseley and Rhodri Harston respectively to ensure the Irish win.
Once again Paul Dunne was in tremendous form as he went through the day undefeated, first lining up with Dermot McElroy for a foursomes triumph before demolishing Luke Jackson 6 and 4, just 24 hours after beating Scottish senior champion David Law.
England were always too strong for Scotland as they gained some big wins in the singles to go on and record a 9-6 success.
Ireland’s non-playing captain Liam Martin was cautiously optimistic last night that they could deliver back to back titles.
“We were disappointed not to do better in the European championships as we have plenty of talent but this week they have shown both ability and a battling spirit. Now we must complete the job,” said Martin.
In the girls home internationals at Fairhaven on the Lancashire coast Ireland bounced back from their opening day defeat at the hands of Scotland to edge home 5-4 against Wales.
The game was on a knife-edge all the way to the wire as Wales took the foursomes 2-1 and were very much in contention until the final game.
Laura McCarthy from Muskerry, a member of Ireland’s winning team in the European championships in Finland secured the crucial point by defeating Kelly Miller on the final green.
The Maguire twins from Cavan, Lisa and Leona, suffered a rare foursomes reverse but they both made amends for that by winning their singles with something to spare.
Emma O’Driscoll, the newly-crowned Irish girls champion, weighed with a win as well.
But Ireland’s chances of clinching the Stroyan Cup virtually disappeared as England recorded an 8-1 successive for the second consecutive day. It means that for Ireland to capture the title they would have to overcome England 8-1 tomorrow - a highly unlikely outcome given England’s domination of this tournament over the years.
Boys
Ireland 6-4 Wales
(Ireland names first)
Foursomes:
P Dunne and D McElroy beat R Pugh and L Jackson 2 and 1
C Selfridge and M Durcan halved with P Mullins and R McLister
R Whitson and I O'Rourke halved with R Harston and J Bush
B Casey and D Murphy lost to M Moseley and C Nugent one hole
C Fairweather and G McGee lost to R Fieldhouse and M Evans 4 and 3
Singles:
Dunne beat Jackson 6 and 4
McElroy beat Bush 2 and 1
Selfridge lost to Nugent 8 and 6
Durcan beat Pugh 2 and 1
C Boggan beat Moseley one hole
O'Rourke lost to M Evans one hole
Whitson lost to Parry 2 and 1
McGee beat Fieldhouse 5and 4
Murphy lost to McLister 2 and 1
Fairweather beat Harston one hole
Other Result: England 9 Scotland 6
Girls
Ireland 5-4 Wales
(Ireland names first)
Foursomes:
Lisa and Leona Maguire lost to K Bradbury and C Herbert one hole
C Reynolds and P Delaney lost to A Boulden and G Bradbury 2 and 1
L McCarthy and E O'Driscoll beat C Williams and N Gobey 3 and 1
Singles:
Leona Maguire beat Gobey 5 and3
P Grant lost to G Bradbury 3 and 2
O'Driscoll beat Herbert one hole
Reynolds lost to K Bradbury 6 and 5
McCarthy beat K Miller one hole
Lisa Maguire beat Boulden 3 and 2
Other Result: England 8 Scotland 1
