Leona Maguire ready to boost Ireland’s hopes in European Ladies Team Championships
The world No. 1 arrived at the venue late on Sunday night and insisted she’d be ready and “100%” prepared to help the in-form Olivia Mehaffey, Holywood’s Jessica Carty, Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan, Skerries’ Maria Dunne and Lisburn’s Paula Grant challenge for Ireland’s first European Ladies Team title since that win at Royal Waterloo in 1983.
“I’m good to go,” Leona said as she waited for her flight on Sunday night. “Resting rather than playing in the Irish Close in Rosapenna was obviously the best decision.
“I played well in the Vagliano Trophy at Malone last week and again this week so I feel I should be good to go. It’s never easy but we’ve got a pretty strong team so we will be giving it a go.”
Non-playing captain Sinead Keane is excited about Ireland’s chances, explaining: “The team is well prepared… it is an added bonus to have the world No. 1 on the team.”
The Girls team also has high hopes for their European Team title hopes at Golf Resort Kaskada Brno in the Czech Republic, with recently capped GB&I Junior Vagliano team players Mairead Martin (Killarney) and Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) joined by current internationals Ciara Casey (Hermitage), Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) and Niamh McSherry (Lurgan).
Casey is flying high after reaching the quarter-finals of the Irish Women’s Close before securing her maiden win in the Leinster Girls Championship last week.
That Ireland hasn’t won the European Ladies title since 1983 or the European Girls since 2009 is another massive incentive to both sides.
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