McNamara and Bowden get the nod for Prestwick

SOUTH of Ireland winner Cian McNamara (Limerick) and runner-up Greg Bowden (Hermitage) are the two new caps in the Irish team for the Home Internationals at Prestwick on September 8-10.

McNamara at 18 becomes one of the youngest golfers to represent Ireland at senior level while Bowden merits the chance having reached the finals of both the West and South Championships before emerging an impressive winner of the Mullingar Scratch Cup.

McNamara, Bowden, Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare) and Sean McTernan (Co Sligo) replace Mervyn Owens (Mallow), Mark O’Sullivan (Galway), Justin Kehoe (Birr) and Johnny Foster (Ballyclare) of the side that captured the Raymond Trophy at Ballybunion last year.

East of Ireland winner Mark Campbell easily held his place but there is no recognition of the achievements by Paul McDonald (Hermitage) and Trevor Coulter (Ballymena) in winning the West and North Championships.

McTernan, a South of Ireland finalist in 2003, doubtless owes his international recall to finishing runner-up behind Welshman Craig Smith in the Irish Amateur Open at Carton House.

Meanwhile, the arrangements for the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup Munster section semi-finals and final, postponed at Dungarvan on Sunday, have been made.

The semi-final between Tramore and Cork goes ahead at Dungarvan tomorrow at 3pm while Killarney and Castletroy will meet in the second match at Mallow on Thursday, again at 3pm. The final is scheduled for Dungarvan on Wednesday, September 1, at 3pm.

IRELAND - Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Mark Campbell (Stackstown), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McGeady (North West), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Sean McTernan (Co Sligo), Michael Sinclair (Knock). Non travelling reserves, Mark O’Sullivan (Galway), Paul O’Hanlon (Curragh). Captain - Mark Gannon (Co Louth).