Ireland find new lease of life to beat Spain at European Amateur Team Championship

Ireland bounced back from their European Amateur Team Championship quarter-final defeat to Italy with an impressive 3½-1½ win against Spain over France’s challenging Chantilly course.

Tony Goode’s side went into the clash knowing they could not emulate their 2008 triumph in the competition following their 4½-2½ loss to the Italians on Thursday.

But Ireland impressed against Spain in the north of France.

And they will now battle it out with the host nation in their final match of the competition today to determine which teams finish in fifth and sixth place.

Goode’s men got off to a perfect start as Warrenpoint’s Colm Campbell teamed up with Naas man Conor O’Rourke to earn a 3&1 victory in their foursomes match with Alejandro Del Rey and Angel Hidalgo.

Walker Cup star Jack Hume continued Ireland’s fine start as he claimed a 2&1 success against Ivan Cantero in the first game of the singles format.

The Island’s Paul McBride, who reached the semi-finals of the British Amateur Championship in South Wales last month, slipped to a one-hole defeat in his encounter with Manuel Elvira. But the win was sealed as Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/Maynooth University) emerged victorious on the first extra hole of his game against Mario Galiano.

And with Ireland holding an unassailable 3-1 lead, Castle’s Alex Gleeson earned a half against Javier Sainz to cap off what was a fine performance by the Men’s side.

Meanwhile, Niamh McSherry and Valerie Clancy starred in Oslo, Norway as Ireland battled their way to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands in the European Girls’ Team Championship.

The sides were locked at 2-2 after the four singles matches of their flight B encounter – with Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) and Rachel Thompson (Cork) both earning wins while Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little) and Mairead Martin (Killarney) were beaten.

But Lurgan’s McSherry and Killarney player Clancy held their nerve to earn victory at the fourth extra hole of their foursomes match against Jennifer Seepers and Lizzy Peeters to seal a dramatic triumph.

There was no such luck for the national side in Oddur, Iceland, as they lost 3½-1½ to the Netherlands in the European Ladies’ Team Championship.

Clandeboye’s Jessica Ross and Lahinch’s Sinead Sexton romped to a 5&4 triumph in their foursomes game against Marit Harryvan and Romy Meekers.

But that was as good as it got as Curtis Cup Star Olivia Mehaffey, Louise Coffey and Jessica Carty all slipped to defeat in their singles games – with Maria Dunne’s half providing the only positive.