Leona secures famous win for Irish girls
Now they bid for an unprecedented double when they contest the girls home internationals next month over the Fairhaven links on the Lancashire coast.
Saturday’s achievement was amazing as their victims in the final were Sweden who have the best record in the championship since it began 18 years ago. Sweden were looking for a third success on the bounce and were appearing in their 11th final.
Although the brilliant 14-year-old twins Lisa and Leona Maguire figured for Ireland the Swedes started as favourites.
That favouritism proved unjustified as the Irish quarter overwhelmed their rivals, sweeping to a 4-1 victory without conceding a game. Ireland completed a pillar-to-post victory as they led the qualifiers into the top flight on Wednesday and never looked in any danger.
A beaming Irish skipper Sinead Keane said: “This is fantastic. What a day for Irish golf. The girls have done themselves, their families, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the nation proud.”
They put themselves in a strong position for the crown by winning the two foursomes as they had in both their previous games. But the Swedes battled hard in the afternoon and turned the match into a gripping affair.
In the end it was the hugely-talented 14-year-old Leona Maguire, who secured the winning point courtesy of a last green victory over Emma Nilsson.
The Slieve Russell star was never down but knew she had been in a match of epic proportions. She and Nilsson halved the first seven holes before Maguire drew first blood. Having got her nose in front the former European Young Masters Champion was determined not to surrender as Ireland needed only one point for victory. A win at the 11th put the Irish teenager two ahead and she appeared home and dry when winning the 13th to go three ahead – but Nilsson retaliated knocking in long putts to capture the 15th and 17th forcing the match down the last.
There the hugely-talented Maguire kept her cool and played the hole in regulation figures to grab a win, record a two-hole success and kickstart the Irish celebrations.
Royal Portrush’s Stephanie Meadow was one down with one to play to Josephine Janson and with the tie settled they agreed to call their match a half – and Lisa Maguire, the Irish champion was level after 18 holes with Tillstrom – they had no need for extra holes as the title was decided.
Earlier there had been a key moment during the all-important foursomes.
Laura McCarthy and Meadow were one down at the turn to Janson and Emilie Lundstrom but they squared at the 10th, edged ahead at the 15th and closed out the match two holes later to give Ireland breathing space.
The Maguire twins, three up at the turn were always in command against Johanna Tillsrom and Nilsson and eventually won 2&1.
“While the Maguire twins as always were terrific it was a team effort with everyone making a contribution. I am very extremely proud of them all,” continued Keane.
“I have been to many golf tournaments over the years but this moment is one I will always cherish.”
Ireland disappointed in the European women’s Team Championship at Bled, Slovenia finishing 17th after losing to Iceland while in the Boys Championship at Golf Club De Pan in the Netherlands the Irish beat Portugal yesterday 3-2 to end up in 11th.
Germany won the women’s championship beating England in the final while Denmark are the boys champions are defeating Germany.
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