Home International humbling for Ireland

Ireland’s hopes of a first Women’s Home International victory since 2004 were dealt a hammer blow on the opening day as the hosts were trounced 9-0 by England at Cork Golf Club.

Ireland had lost 8-1 to the English last year at Hillside, Lancashire, there was no respite in Cork as the defending champions, back-boned by three of this year’s GB & Ireland’s Curtis Cup-winning team, whitewashed an Irish side missing Stephanie Meadow and Lisa and Leona Maguire.

“It was a very bad day at the office against a very good England team,” Ireland captain Claire Coughlan-Ryan said. “I just need to sit down with the girls and have a chat and talk about where we can improve.”

GB&I duo Holly Clyburn and Bronte Law completed a sweep of the three morning foursomes with a 4&3 defeat of Co. Louth’s Deirdre Smith and Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan and there was no let up in the afternoon singles.

English champion Kelly Tidy got the ball rolling with a thumping 8&7 win over Maria Dunne but despite much closer contests in the other five matches, the Irish team were duly knocked over. There was particular heartache for Deirdre Smith, who had been 4up over Alex Peters after 10 holes but then lost five holes in-a-row on the back nine on the way to a 2&1 defeat.

Ireland now play a Wales team which launched its title bid with a 6-3 win over Scotland. The tie was all square at 1.5 each after the three morning foursomes but the Welsh team, spearheaded by Curtis Cup player Amy Boulden, raced to victory in the afternoon singles. Wales won the session 4.5-1.5 with wins for Boulden, Chloe Williams, Samantha Birks, Katie Bradbury and Gemma Bradbury.

“It can only improve against Wales,” Coughlan-Ryan said. “We just need to get them over that final hurdle because there were one or two matches there we could have won.

“But I can’t fault them for their hard work, they tried their hearts out.”

Coughlan-Ryan has kept faith with the same foursomes pairings for today’s foursomes with Mary Dowling of New Ross and Holywood’s Jessica Carty set to open Ireland’s comeback bid against Boulden and Becky Harries. Cork GC’s Gillian O’Leary partners Sarah Cunningham of Ennis against Williams and Katie Bradbury and Smith and Ryan will take on Birks and Katherine O’Connor.

The Home Internationals conclude tomorrow when England play Wales and Ireland face the Scots.

Wales 6, Scotland 3

Foursomes: Amy Boulden and Becky Harries lost to Laura Murray and Alyson McKechin 2 holes, Chloe Williams and Katie Bradbury bt Eilidh Briggs and Jane Turner 3 and 1, Katherine O’Connor and Samantha Birks halved with Kelsey MacDonald and Rachael Watton

Foursomes result: Wales 1½ Scotland 1½

Singles: Boulden bt Briggs 3 and 2, Williams bt MacDonald 4 and 2, Katie Bradbury halved with McKechin, Gemma Bradbury bt Lauren Whyte 1 hole, Birks bt Murray 2 and 1, Harries lost to Turner 4 and 3

Singles result: Wales 4½ Scotland 1½

Ireland 0, England 9

Foursomes: Gillian O’Leary and Sarah Cunningham lost to Kelly Tidy and Alexandra Peters 4 and 3, Mary Dowling and Jessica Carty lost to Georgia Hall and Emily Taylor 3 and 1, Deirdre Smith and Chloe Ryan lost to Holly Clyburn and Bronte Law 4 and 3

Foursomes result: England 3 Ireland 0

Singles: Maria Dunne lost to Tidy 8 and 7, Carty lost to Hall 3 and 1, Lucy Simpson lost to Amber Ratcliffe 3 and 1, O’Leary lost to Clyburn 3 and 2, Smith lost to Peters 2 and 1, Cunningham lost to Taylor 4 and 3 (0-6)

Singles result: England 6 Ireland 0

Today’s games: England v Scotland, Ireland v Wales.