Irish bid for title hat-trick

IRELAND begin their bid this morning to become the first country for almost four decades to win three European Amateur Team titles on the bounce.

Not since England completed a hat-trick of triumphs in 1973 at Penina, Portugal has it been achieved – and Ireland know a stern challenge awaits them this week at Conwy on the North Wales coast.

Kevin Flanagan succeeds Michael Burns as captain. Burns was in charge when the Irish won at Western Gailes in Scotland in 2007 with victory over France and at Turin last summer when they beat England in the final.