Irish finish on high note

There were no seismic shift to aid Ireland's Home Championship effort at Carlow Golf Club yesterday. England, somewhat processionally, earned their eighth title in 10 years with a 5-4 win over Wales, Ireland coming in second place beating Scotland 51/2 to 31/2. Over the last decade the narrative of the script has rarely deviated, the subtext being who can finish second to the powerful English team.

For all of Ireland's natural displeasure at not winning the event, there were positive cameo roles which stirred the home support. While the winner's top player Rebecca Hudson remained unbeaten in her six matches over the three days, so too did Elaine Dowdall, the UCD graduate from Wexford.

Dowdall, who was forced to take a six-week break from golf between April and May to concentrate on her final exams, finished with a 2 and 1 win over Heather Stirling and completed the best international week of her career. She earned 51/2 points from a possible six.

The 23-year-old was approximately five under par on Thursday and four under par yesterday, coming back from one hole down after five to win on the 17th. Dowdall also drew a gasp from the crowd huddled at the junction of the 16th and 17th holes. Having already aced the par-three 13th hole against England on Thursday she hit a seven iron to three feet to fittingly close the match.

Hazel Kavanagh also ended a prosperous three days with a 3 and 2 win over Lesley Mackay to put her in third place overall in the individual standings. The Grange player completed the championship with five points from six matches played.

Ireland began the day with the encouraging news that the sick Allison Coffey had recovered enough overnight to play in both the morning foursomes, which ended even, and the afternoon singles.

Coffey, with seven birdies and no bogeys on her card, was the first Irish player in, comprehensively defeating Laura Moffat 3 and 1. Dowdall quickly followed leaving Ireland with just a win and a halved match needed from the four remaining.

Yvonne Cassidy went down 3 and 2 when Linzi Morton birdied the 16th hole while Sinead Keane, in her first start of the tournament, also lost to Irish Amateur Strokeplay champion Anne Laing. Laing also birdied on the par-five 16th to raise Scottish hopes of a first match win in the competition since Lahinch four years ago.

But as the drums beat, encouraging news from Hazel Kavanagh's match had her four-up at the turn. She went on to beat Lesley Mackay 3 and 2 leaving Martina Gillen to win her first singles of the tournament on the 18th hole. Gillen's match was the only one to go to 18 holes. Having been two-up at the 16th after holing a pitch from 40 yards, her opponent won the 17th to send it down the final fairway before the Beaverstown 19-year-old halved it for the win.

Ireland 5, Scotland 3 (Foursomes: A Coffey and E Power lost to L Kenny and L Mackay 2 and 1; C Coughlan and M Gillen halved with A Laing and L Morton; H Kavanagh and E Dowdall bt C Hargan and L Moffat 2 and 1; Singles: A Coffey bt L Moffat 3 and 1; E Dowdall bt H Stirling 2 and 1; Y Cassidy lost to L Morton 3 and 2; S Keane lost to A Laing 2 and 1; M Gillen bt L Kenny 1 up ;H Kavanagh bt L Mackay 3 and 2) England 5, Wales 4 (Foursomes: E Duggleby and F More bt B Brewerton and E Pilgrim 3 and 1; K Fisher and R Hudson bt S Jones and L Davis 3 and 2; K Andrews and F Brown lost to K Evans and A Highgate 5 and 4; Singles: R Hudson bt B Brewerton 2 and 1; F More Eng bt L Davis 4 and 3; E Duggleby lost to E Pilgrim 3 and 2; S Heath halved with A Highgate; K Smith halved with K Evans; K Andrew lost to S Jones 2 up).

Final placings: 1, England 3 wins; 2, Ireland 2 wins; 3, Scotland and Wales one draw each.