Ireland moved into the semi-finals of the European Boys' Team Championship in Holland yesterday with the most dramatic of victories (4-3) over Finland. They will now face England today with Scotland meeting France.
Having won both morning foursomes, Ireland might have been forgiven for believing the tie was virtually in the bag but with Finland being ahead in three of the five singles at halfway and only one down in the other two, the situation was slowly turning against the Irish. The top two matches both went Finland's way with something to spare and as the other three entered the closing stages, they were desperately tight.
Dubliner David Ryan came to the last one up while Connor Doran of Banbridge was all square with a couple to play and Derek McNamara was one down with three holes remaining. By this time, late in the afternoon, a deluge had flooded several greens and Ryan put his second onto the putting surface with his opponent Roope Kakko on the edge.
Ryan was some 45 feet away from the pin and had to putt through substantial casual water. He asked for a ruling but was told to carry on. Subsequently his putt went only 15 feet, got stuck in the water and he lost the hole. But before Ryan was able to tee off at the l9th, the siren sounded for a suspension of play because of the water lying on so many of the greens.
So the Grange teenager, upset by what had happened, went into the clubhouse to compose himself and when play resumed, strode confidently to the l9th, hit two fine shots to the heart of the green and knocked in a 20-foot putt for a birdie three and victory. But Doran still needed to win his match against Caius Collin for Ireland to move into the last four.
He had been two down at the turn but battled back and at the l8th got a splendid par four after also being called off the course. And that sealed the success allowing McNamara to lose but Ireland to win.
Having finished seventh last year, it's a fine achievement to reach the semi-finals, though it will be tough going against England, who beat Switzerland 5-2.
