Ireland suffer second singles collapse

Women's Home Internationals: Ireland's hopes of winning the Women's Home Internationals on home soil for the first time in almost 100 years were all washed-up when they lost for the second day in succession against a vibrant, young Wales side at Dundalk Golf Club yesterday.

The problem on both occasions arose when Sheena O'Brien Kenney's team collapsed in the singles matches, allowing Wales to turn the 2-1 deficit from the morning foursomes into a 5½-3½ overall win - just as they had against Scotland.

Beaverstown's Martina Gillen was the only outright singles winner for Ireland on a cold, wet day by the Cooley Mountains when she beat Lucy Gould 3 and 1 in the bottom match. Tara Delaney picked up a half point against Stephanie Evans in the second tie. The Carlow golfer might have nicked the win had she not three-putted the final green, just as her opponent did.

In the top match, Tricia Mangan struggled to find her touch on the greens and never got to grips with the powerful Sarah Jones as she lost 4 and 3 to the Wales champion.

Deirdre Smith gave a good account of herself but ran into a barrage of birdies on the back nine from Breanne Loucks. Smith had moved ahead at the 12th for the first time, only for the diminutive Welsh player to birdie the next three holes before ending the game at the 16th, 3 and 2.

All week Claire Coughlan has failed to reproduce the type of form which got her to the final of this year's British Amateur Championship, and she was replaced by Maria Dunne for the afternoon singles. However, the Skerries golfer was unable to match Sahra Hassan as the Wales teenager ran out a 3 and 2 winner.

In the morning foursomes, Coughlan was paired with Heather Nolan but they lost on the final hole to Hassan and Loucks. Gillen and Mangan teamed up again in the top foursomes match to beat Jones and Lydia Hall 5 and 3, while Smith and Morrin won 4 and 2 against Evans and Davies.

Ireland had been trying to bridge the gap since the last win on home soil way back in 1907 at Royal County Down. The fact that O'Brien Kenney's team was also attempting and unprecedented Irish treble make the two defeats an even more bitter pill to swallow.

That said, Ireland can still have a say in the overall outcome as they take on the leaders, England, in the final series today.

England top the table on 11½ points due to the yesterday's 5-4 win over their nearest challengers Scotland, who are on 10½ points. That result could easily have swung the other way had Scotland's Anne Laing not lost the last three holes to lose one up against fellow Curtis Cup player Emma Duggleby in the glamour tie of the afternoon.

Scotland take on third placed Wales, who have won eight matches, while Ireland are at the foot of the table with just six wins.