Ireland Girls’ captain Brenda Craig acknowledged a heroic from her players while the combined side fell just short against Scotland on the opening day of the R&A Boys’ & Girls’ Home Internationals in Cork.
England lead the overall and Girls’ standings following their comprehensive 13-8 victory over Wales, as Scotland defeated the hosts 11-10. However, Ireland are just one game point shy of the English in the Girls’ standings, before they renew rivalries tomorrow.
The combined Irish side had made a fast start and took a 4-3 lead after the morning foursomes against Scotland.
Hannah Lee-McNamara and Zoe McLean-Tattan, Kate Dillon and Róisín Scanlon, and Tralee pair Lucy Grattan and Ella Moynihan all won their matches for a clean sweep for the Girls. Caelan Coleman and Harry O’Hara combined for an important point for the Boys.
Scanlon and Dillon both won their singles matches in the afternoon and despite further wins for Isaac Oliver, William O’Riordan and John William Burke, Ireland came up just short.
“A little bit disappointed with the overall result but we still got 10 points which is a good start for everybody for the week,” said Craig.
“The girls had a really good day, three great wins in the foursomes this morning followed up with two wins and two halves this afternoon, so we won our Girls’ section 6-3, absolutely delighted and looking forward now to England tomorrow.
“We would have preferred to keep the English game until Thursday but we have to play them at some stage so really looking forward to it.
“We beat them in the Girls’ match in the Home Internationals last year, we beat them not so long ago in the quarter-finals of the Europeans, so looking forward to another great match tomorrow. First match out so the girls will be going out fresh and looking forward to it.
“Three new girls in and the two Tralee girls getting a super win this morning, and Ella Cantwell getting an absolutely fabulous half this afternoon, so our experienced girls and the new girls are mixing and blending really well.
“There’s a long way to go and hopefully we’re chatting tomorrow afternoon and I have another smile on my face.”
England also impressed against Wales on Tuesday. Charlotte Naughton and Annabel Peaford were part of a 7&6 win, there were three 4&3 results in their favour too as England took a 5-2 lead from the morning foursomes.
Naughton had another big 7&6 win in the afternoon, with Alex Boyes (6&5) and Aaron Moody (8&7) also shining.
“We had a really good start in the foursomes, so that’s always good to get a couple of points on the board because that’s always difficult,” said England captain India Clyburn.
“This afternoon in the singles, we had some good battles out there, hard-fought matches to the end, and some good comebacks from the matches that we did lose, but all really good.”