Ireland boys get poor start

Ireland’s hopes of regaining the R&A Trophy in the Boys Home International Championship at Co Louth were dealt an opening day blow when they suffered a 9½-5½ defeat to defending champions England.

They lost four of the five foursomes and with three of the top five singles going against them they were effectively out of the reckoning.

Alex Gleeson and William Russell secured Ireland’s only foursomes point when they edged to a last green success against Dan Brown and Joe Dean.

Playing at the top of the order, McEvoy Trophy winner and Irish Amateur Open champion, Gavin Moynihan, briefly gave the hosts hope when he recorded one of his best-ever triumphs by beating Toby Tree, an Amateur Championship quarter-finalist, by 2&1.

Further down the order, James Sugrue, Gareth Lappin and John Ross Galbraith won their matches but when Jordan Hood lost his halfway lead to Jack Singh Brar and slipped to a 2&1 reverse it was all over.

Ireland will now have to pick up the pieces today when they face Scotland who yesterday overcame Wales after whitewashing their rivals 5-0 in the foursomes.

England v Ireland (England names first)

Foursomes: M Orrin and T Tree beat G Moynihan and P McBride 4&3; P Kelly and A Turner beat J Hood and G Lappin 3&2; D Brown and J Dean lost to A Gleeson and W Russell one hole; N Marsh and J S Brar beat S Flanagan and R Dawson, one hole; M Fitzpatrick and R Burlson beat J R Galbraith and A Myles 3&2.

Foursomes result: England 4 Ireland 1.

Singles: Tree lost to Moynihan 2&1; Orrin beat McBride two holes; Kelly beat Gleeson 4&3; R Keeble halved with Dawson; Marsh beat Russell 4&2; Dean lost to P Sugrue 2&1; Brown lost to Lappin one hole; Brar beat Hood 2&1;Turner beat Myles 4&2; Fitzpatrick lost to Galbraith 3&2.

Singles result: England 5½ Ireland 4½

Match Result: England 9½ Ireland 5½.

Other Result: Scotland 9½ Wales 5½