Jones and Cullen earn their stripes

The new kids on the block showed they possess more than mere youthful exuberance. On another day of high winds, with even the seagulls seeking shelter among the gorse, two of the debutants on the Irish team - Gary Cullen and David Jones - responded with real character when the chips were down in yesterday's encounter with Wales to ensure that today's final clash with England will effectively be a head-to-head for the championship.

In fast-fading light, Cullen, a 23year-old Dubliner, who is the first player from Beaverstown to ascend to a senior international cap, staged a quite remarkable fightback to secure the vital half-point that ensured a draw (7 1/2-7 1/2) with the Welsh. "I knew it was important to keep going," commented Cullen, who had been four down with four holes to play in his personal duel with Stuart Roberts.

His feat was all the more commendable given the conditions. The winds strengthened to gale force nine in the afternoon, and the result was that balls moved on the more exposed greens, particularly the ninth and the 15th. "It was a bit ridiculous, but the strange thing is that once you accepted it, you could have fun," said Eamon Brady. "However, I doubt if professionals would have played in such conditions."

Noel Fox, in fact, was penalised a shot on the 15th green when the ball moved some 10 feet as he addressed it. "I'd been aware of the ball oscillating all afternoon," admitted Fox, "so I'd made sure I didn't address the ball until I was ready to hit. That time I didn't, and I paid the penalty."

The incident didn't affect him though, and Fox finished his match with a birdie on the 17th for a 2 and 1 win over the British amateur finalist Craig Williams, a year to the day since he beat a certain Justin Rose in the same competition.

Fox's win was also crucial. Having established a 3-2 lead from the morning foursomes, Ireland needed five points to win the match - and four-and-half to draw. In the end, the share of the spoils was accepted with considerable relief. Fox, Paddy Gribben, Garth McGimpsey and Jones all came up with the wins that leave Ireland requiring victory over England today to clinch the crown.

Yesterday's points were hard-won. Prior to the championship, players were issued with guidelines that decreed rounds should take no longer than three hours 45 minutes. Yesterday, anyone who managed to reach the 18th green did so almost five hours after teeing-off at the first.

Cullen was acutely aware of his responsibility standing on the 18th tee. He had trailed by four holes to Roberts with just four to play, but proceeded to win the 15th when his opponent blocked his tee-shot into the tiger rough, won the 16th with a par, and claimed the 17th with a birdie after reaching the green on the downwind, 508-yard par five hole with a driver and wedge and taking his two putts.

One down on the 18th, he unleashed a huge drive into the teeth of the wind and then sent his four-iron approach 35 feet to the righthand side of the green. "I misread the first putt," conceded Cullen, who left himself with a downhill five-footer for the par that he knew would win him the hole. "I read it as firm, inside left, hit it and closed my eyes." It fell in, to leave the roars of the Irish supporters to be carried away on the wind.

Cullen's endeavours ensured Ireland couldn't lose, but less than 30 minutes earlier 18-year-old Jones, who two weeks ago captained the British and Irish boys to victory over the Continent of Europe in the Leglise Trophy, confirmed his rich promise by forging out a one hole winning margin over Morgan Palmer. On the 18th, he hit what Fox, now in the role of supporter, claimed was "the best shot I've ever seen".

Jones' drive had finished on a downslope, and he still had 230 yards to go into the wind. The Derry teenager opted to use his driver - "the safest club in the bag", he said - and proceeded to leave the ball five feet left of the flag. Then, he calmly stroked the ball up to the cup for the two putts that ensured victory.

"I wanted that win," added Jones, now with two-and-a-half points out of three in an impressive debut in the championships. "Morgan beat me in the boys championships last year, and I don't forget players who beat me. I wanted revenge."

Ireland lost out on countback to England for the title last year. A win over them today would provide some more revenge, and stop them claiming a sixth successive title.