GOLF AMATEUR WOMEN:LEONA AND Lisa Maguire make their Senior Home International debuts at Whitchurch in Cardiff today when they line up against England.
The Maguires helped Ireland finish runners-up in the European Girls championship in July and have again this year demonstrated their outstanding ability.
The Slieve Russell duo will form a useful partnership in the foursomes and provide inspiration for the team.
Only the Maguires and Malone’s Louise Coffey are new to home international golf.
Danielle McVeigh will hope to reproduce the form that brought her so much success last year, including victory in the British strokeplay championship.
Form really deserted her this summer after the Curtis Cup match, to such an extent that she failed to qualify for the matchplay stages of the British Amateur Championship at Ganton.
Irish Close champion Mary Dowling and Munster title-holder Gillian O’Leary add experience to the side, which will be captained by Claire Robinson.
Cork’s O’Leary showed up encouragingly at the British stroke-play championship at Tenby, while Charlene Reid and Sinéad O’Sullivan, who are recalled, have an abundance of talent.
Wales have won the last two Home International Championships, but over the years England have been by far the most successful country – they last triumphed in 2007 to complete a hat-trick of victories and have won the Hugh C Kelly Cup 13 times since 1992.
This is arguably the strongest Ireland team since they last won the contest in 2004 at Royal Porthcawl.
Ireland start off today against England, play Wales tomorrow and conclude the round-robin series against Scotland.
IRELAND: L Coffey (Malone), M Dowling (New Ross), Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell), Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell), D McVeigh (Royal County Down), G O'Leary (Cork), S O'Sullivan (Galway), C Reid (Royal Portrush). Capt: Claire Robinson.
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