Ireland out of European Amateur Championship after inexplicable collapse

An inexplicable singles collapse against old enemies England at Halmstad, in Sweden, yesterday cost Ireland’s men the chance of collecting their first title for seven years.

Having qualified for the top flight in second spot the Irish were in buoyant mood and they came out of the blocks in style winning both foursomes after enjoying the edge for most of the morning.

Playing at the top of the order Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan and Jack Hume produced some fine golf to edge out double European champion Ashley Chesters and established international Jimmy Mullen at the second extra hole of a sudden-death decider.

Too good

And Cormac Sharvin, winner of the prestigious Brabazon Trophy last month and Ballymena’s Dermot McElroy were just that bit too good for

Sean Towndrow

and

Ashton Turner

running out 2 and 1 winners.

With those two points under their belt Ireland were red-hot favourites to move into the semi-finals and for quite a time they seemed to be in pole position but in mid-afternoon the tide turned. At one stage only Sharvin who had an off-afternoon seemed certain to lose – he went down 4&3 to an inspired Ben Taylor.

But one by one the other Irish players lost promising-looking leads – Paul Dunne who is set for a British Open appearance at St Andrews next week had his nose in front of Mullen much of the way – but the Devon man eventually won on the 20th.

Looking promising

Moynihan also slipped to defeat to Turner after looking promising and Gary Hurley, up early on succumbed 2&1 to Chesters. That was sufficient for England to win. Only Hume from Naas hung on for a half with

Nick Marsh

after he had also been in front. That resulted in a 4½-2½ reverse.

England now face Switzerland for a place in the final while in the other semi-final France meet Spain.

Ireland also suffered heartache in the women’s event at Helsingor, in Denmark, when they were agonisingly beaten by England in a dramatic sudden-death play-off.