IRELAND were pipped by Germany in their bid for a semi-final place in the European boys team golf championship at Gut Murstatten in Austria yesterday.

They battled bravely but fell by the wayside 4-3, and the best they can hope for in this championship is fifth place. Today they will come up against Denmark.

Things looked pretty gloomy for Ireland from the moment they lost both the morning foursomes, one on the home green, the other by 3 and 2.

Those two reverses meant they needed four out of the five singles points for victory, but straight away they had their backs to the wall as Germany produced some high class golf.

Daniel Sugrue, who had returned two 68s during the qualifying stages, was the only Irish lad always in charge of his match. He ran out an easy 7 and 5 winner. Steven Hood got his nose in front where it mattered most to beat Manuel Kempe by 2 and 1, but then both David Jones and Andrew Lynch had to fight rearguard actions if Ireland were to stand a chance of making progress.

Jones, who was involved in a tight encounter with Michael Tannhauser, triumphed at the second extra hole of a sudden death playoff, which meant it all depended on the bottom game between Andrew Lynch and Tino Schuster.

Schuster was up most of the time, and when he was three ahead with six to play, and still two in front standing on the 17th green, it really did look like curtains for Lynch.

But he pulled out all the stops, grabbing a couple of majestic birdies to square the match on the home green. He needed to win in extra time to steer Ireland through, but at the 20th put his second shot in a bunker and that was the end of the story.

"It really was a shame because the boys played so well and gave 120 per cent," said Irish captain Fred Gannon.