Ireland aim for a double defence

Amateur Scene: New caps Greg Bowden and Cian McNamara will go in at the deep end as Ireland seek a second successive Home Internationals title at Prestwick Golf Club which start tomorrow.

Ireland open the defence of their title against England who will be out to redress last year's unimpressive display when finishing last of the four nations.

Ireland can call on seven of that winning team - Mark Campbell, the East of Ireland champion; Darren Crowe, the World University champion; Walker Cup star Noel Fox; Richard Kilpatrick, the reserve last year; Irish Close Champion Brian McElhinney; Michael McGeady and Michael Sinclair. Gareth Maybin, back from Alabama University and Co Sligo's Sean McTiernan make up the 11-man squad.

England have four new caps - Robert Dinwiddie from Durham, Suffolk's Lawrence Dodd, Kent's Steven Tiley and Cheshire based Paul Waring. The others selected are Lee Corfield, Adam Gee, newly crowned English Champion James Heath, Gary Lockerbie, Matthew Richardson, Michael Skelton and Gary Wolstenholme.

Ireland will travel with confidence but there will be no easy matches as Scotland will be anxious to add to the European title they won at The Island in July. Scottish Amateur Champion George Murray, who made his senior debut this year, will be in action at the former British Open Championship venue. The 21-year-old from Earlsferry Thistle will be joined by Scottish Strokeplay Champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), Scott Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) and Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw).

The quartet, along with Wallace Booth and Kevin McAlpine, led the Scots to victory in the European Youths Team Championship, defeating England in the final.

The Irish Women's team will also be hoping for an international double at Royal Porthcawl starting tomorrow. Last year's winners at Cruden Bay can call on Claire Coughlan, Helen Jones, Maura Morrin, Tricia Mangan and Heather Nolan from last year's team and will be joined by Irish Close Champion Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) and new cap Sinéad O'Sullivan (Galway).

Nolan, surprisingly not on the original selection after an excellent performance last year, replaces Tara Delaney, who has taken a place at Kent State University.

Ireland sensationally beat England in last year'sdecider taking five of the six singles on the last day to register their fourth win in the competition. Ireland's other successes came in 1907, 1980 and 1986 while they shared the championship with Scotland and England in 1974 and with Scotland in 1979.

Ada O'Sullivan has been re-appointed captain of the 2005 Vagliano Trophy and 2006 Curtis Cup teams with Fiona Norris again acting as team manager. "I'm delighted to have been named as captain for both matches and to have Fiona alongside me as team manager," said O'Sullivan.

"Many people had assumed that I would automatically be re-appointed and while I was hoping to be given the chance to lead the sides to defend the Vagliano Trophy and to regain the Curtis Cup, I was taking nothing for granted. However, the LGU contacted me immediately after the Curtis Cup at Formby, inviting me to take on both challenges once again. Now that I have been re-appointed we can get on with the business of looking at the players and naming an Elite Squad that will form the nucleus of the side for the match in America in two years time," said O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan first captained the GB&I team in the 2002 Espirito Santo Trophy in Malaysia before captaining the winning 2003 Vagliano Trophy team and this year's Curtis Cup team at Formby.

"This was one of the easiest decisions we have had to make. Ada has done a tremendous job with the squad over the past two years and we are delighted that she has decided to accept the role and that Fiona Norris will continue as manager. We look forward with great confidence to both the Vagliano Trophy and the Curtis Cup," said Andy Salmon, CEO of the Ladies' Golf Union.

Prior to these positions, O'Sullivan had a long career in Irish amateur golf captaining Irish teams at junior and senior levels. The 2006 Curtis Cup will be played at Bandon Dunes, Oregon on July 29th and 30th and the 2005 Vagliano Trophy at Chantilly, France, on July 22nd and 23rd.

IRELAND (men): Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Sean McTernan (County Sligo), Michael Sinclair (Knock). Captain: Mark Gannon (Co Louth).

IRELAND (women): Claire Coughlan (Cork), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Helen Jones (Strabane), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Heather Nolan (Shannon), Sinéad O'Sullivan (Galway), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth). Captain: Sheena O'Brien-Kenney (Grange). Manager: Lillian Starrett (Cairndhu).