Irish team in Euro final

The Irish team competing at the European Seniors Championship at Ruuhikoski Golf Club in Finland have reached the final in convincing fashion following a 4.5 to 0.5 drubbing of England today.

Having qualified for the top flight in fourth place, the Irish team was pitted against leading qualifiers England in a battle to see who would play Scotland in the final as the Irish look to bridge a five-year gap since their last European success.

The first match of the semi-final was a foursomes encounter which saw Tony Goode of Lucan and Seamus McParland of Greenore go 2 holes down after five, but the Leinster pairing rallied and eventually ran out comfortable 4/3 winners over Robert Knott and Jonathan Marks.

In the singles matches, Killeen's Maurice Kelly saw off Alan Squires by 2 holes with one to play, while Peter Cowley from Cork was a 3/2 winner over Stewart King.

David Lane fell victim to Hugh Smyth of Mourne by the narrowest of margins, the Ulsterman clinching victory on the last hole for a 1 hole win.

Hugh Mackeown from Portmarnock halved his match with Douglas Arnold to ensure there were no defeats for the Irish who set their sights firmly on the final tomorrow (Saturday) with Scotland.

Ireland last won the European Seniors Team Championship at Torremirona GC, Spain in 2001 and Peter Cowley of Cork was part of the team that triumphed five years ago.