Dublin teenager David Ryan was the hero as Ireland grabbed a dramatic, extra-time victory over defending title holders England to move into the final of the European Boys' Championship over the Noord-Nederlandse course in northern Holland yesterday.
For the second consecutive day the 18year-old from the Grange club had to go to extra holes, and, for the second time, he got the vital point there that secured Ireland's progress.
Today Ireland meet Scotland for the title in a repeat of the 1998 decider at Gullane which the Irish won. If history repeats itself they can celebrate only their second triumph in the 21-year history of the event.
The foursomes were shared, with Ireland getting their point at the 19th. But things looked good mid way through the afternoon's singles: Derek McNamara was four up on the out-of-sorts David Porter, and Conor Doran was also four ahead of Yasin Ali.
But two matches went up the 19th, with England needing to win both. Lancashire's Nick Dougherty did his job in the style of a champion by winning the 19th against Kenneth Fahey, so all depended on the Josh Simons v Ryan match.
Simons had a three-foot putt to seal victory, but with nerves jangling and all his team-mates and supporters around the green, it slipped by.
At the 20th, Ryan cooly chipped to six feet. When Simons failed with his long attempt, Ryan stepped up and holed the putt.
In the other semi-final, Scotland always held the upper hand against France winning the two foursomes and going on to triumph by four matches to two with one halved.
