McGinley takes his place in Irish sporting history

PAUL McGINLEY yesterday joined a long list of Irish men who have played crucial parts in Ryder Cup victories.

Those with long memories will recall how handsomely Harry Bradshaw and Christy O'Connor Senior contributed to the Britain & Ireland triumph at Lindrick in 1957, while there have been several more specific cases in the past thirteen years.

Eamonn Darcy's putt on the 18th to beat Ben Crenshaw in 1987 was vital. No Irishman will ever forget Christy Junior's fabulous two iron to The Belfry's 18th green in 1989. Nor how Philip Walton somehow kept his head to provide the clinching point at Oak Hill in 1995.