Irish need champions' self-belief

England had a surprising struggle in wild, north-west winds and sudden showers, before winning the Women's Home Internationals at Lahinch yesterday for a sixth successive year. While the champions were edging to a narrow victory over Wales, Ireland emerged with two points for the first time since their overall victory in 1986.

The Irish, Scots and Welsh have learned to be grateful for small mercies in this event. So, Ireland were understandably pleased with an unexpectedly comfortable 7-2 victory over the Scots - the biggest winning margin against them since 1977. Against that background, Irish captain Claire Dowling had good reason to view the exercise as "a significant step forward". Typically, however, she was quick to add: "Though I believe we now have the talent for overall victory, the players must acquire the self-belief to finish off their opponents."

England have now captured this title for the 10th time in the last 14 years. During that period, their dominance was broken three times by Scotland (1988, 1990 and 1991) and once by Ireland (1986).

In the face of such supremacy, the temptation is to concede defeat. A closer examination of this week's play, however, revealed that England's superiority often had more to do with their competitive attitude than a disparity in playing skills. Which is essentially what Dowling was saying.

Either way, it is reasonable to assume that their players will have the lion's share of a Curtis Cup training squad to be announced in the next few weeks. The LGU selectors were at Lahinch this week. England's second clean-sweep of the foursomes - they had done so against Scotland on Wednesday - was achieved without going to the 18th. And despite stubborn Welsh resistance in the afternoon, characterised by veteran Vicki Thomas, the eventual outcome was never in doubt.

Ireland also had an admirably fruitful morning, with a win and two halves. The second of the wins was a fine effort from Alison Coffey and Michelle McGreevy, who conceded a two-hole advantage to go to the 18th all flat.

After both pairs had played three, an over-zealous approach putt from the Scots left them six feet past the target, whereas Coffey came up eight feet short with a putt from off the back of the green. McGreevy, who had experienced putting problems since arriving here, then proved that raw courage could compensate for technical frailty.

To a rousing cheer, the putt went down. Then, with the hole having shrunk to the size of a thimble, Scotland's Anne Laing lipped out.

Ireland's moderate afternoon challenge was helped considerably by the early supremacy of Suzanne Fanagan, at number one. The national champion swept into a four-hole lead after 13 against no less a player than Alison Rose, heroine of last year's Curtis Cup triumph.

Fanagan's struggle from then on, however, appeared to be contagious, as the remainder of the side seemed to lose their grip on matters. And it was highly significant that when the Milltown player secured victory on the 18th everything appeared to turn in Ireland's favour.

As it happened, she lost the 14th, 15th and 16th, stopped the rot with a courageous half in par at the next and then won the 18th comfortably, forcing a concession from the British and Scottish champion, who was off the back of the green in four.

Though Ireland's victory margin was ultimately clear-cut, it didn't seem likely when Hazel Kavanagh battled at number three against Claire Hargan. Two up after nine, the Irish player went one down when Hargan holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 13th. But Kavanagh recovered to square with a birdie at the next.

Her lead was then restored in remarkable fashion at the short 16th. With the wind howling from her right, Kavanagh was off-balance when attempting to hit a seven-iron tee-shot. This led to a shank down the 15th fairway. Seeing the humour of the situation, the two players then started giggling, with the result that Hargan knocked down her own tee-shot.

Eventually, Kavanagh played a glorious, downwind pitch over the right greenside bunker to 15 feet. And she slotted the putt for a winning par. A five-footer then found the target at the 17th for another winning par - and the match.

Kavanagh's contribution coincided with a halved match from Eileen Rose Power, giving Ireland the necessary five points for victory. It was a fine effort by Power who looked to be heading for defeat when she lost the 15th and 16th in pars to be one down. But she chipped and sank a nine-foot putt for a win at the 17th, where her opponent three-putted. They halved the last in par.