Ireland bidding for Triple Crown clean sweep
They clash with Scotland at Tenby on the opening day of the senior men’s home international championship and bid to complete a clean sweep of domestic Triple Crowns before the end of the week. This season has seen them capture the Boys International Crown at Royal County Down and the men’s title at Muirfield — and on top of those two achievements Ireland captured the European Amateur Team title in Turin in July and the Euro Seniors Team Championship the following month at Shannon.
They will, however, be without Tipperary’s former Walker Cup player Arthur Pierse, the 2007 British seniors Open Champion as he has pulled out of the Tenby event due to a viral infection.
He is replaced by Nigel Duke of Killiney in what is a strong-looking side.
England are the reigning seniors home international champions and they begin the defence of their title against last year’s wooden spoonists Wales today.
Meanwhile Ireland field their strongest-ever side for the senior women’s internationals which also begin today at Little Aston in the Midlands.
Donabate’s Mary McKenna, nine times a Curtis Cup player will use her substantial influence to try and guide Ireland to their first title and Helen Jones who came close to winning the Irish seniors stroke-play title is in the line-up along with former British champion Valerie Hassett.
Ireland open today against England, play Wales tomorrow and wind up the series against Scotland on Thursday.
Ireland men’s team :J Carroll (Bandon), M Coote (Castleisland), N Duke (Killiney), M Kelly (Killeen), L McNamara (Woodbrook), A Morrow (Portmarnock), H Smyth (Mourne).
Non-playing captain: T Basquille (Strandhill).
Ireland women’s team: V Hassett (Ennis), M Henderson (West Rhine), H Jones (Strabane), M Madden (Ballinasloe), V McBride (Belvoir Park), M McKenna (Donabate), S O’Brien Kenney (Grange).
Captain: R Fanagan (Milltown).
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