Ireland are the 2024 Senior Women’s Home Internationals champions after a thrilling final day at Castlerock Golf Club that saw England claim the Overall title for the second year running.
The final day could not have been better poised as Ireland faced off against England with each of the Overall, Men’s and Women’s honours on the line after both had secured consecutive victories over the first two days.
Ireland’s Senior Women’s team took an early lead in the morning’s foursomes, going undefeated to carry a 2-1 advantage into the singles courtesy of a 2&1 win for Tracy Eakin (Dooks) and Lisa Cullen (Killarney), accompanied by two tied matches.
Royal Portrush’s Laura Webb led Ireland out in the singles and went on to win her match 1UP on the eighteenth, before Eakin notched up her second point of the day with a dominant 5&4 victory in the third match out, meaning Ireland only required one more point to secure the victory.
The winning moment fell to Deirdre Smith (Co.Louth) who’s match was in the balance as she took a 1UP advantage into the last. An overhit approach saw Smith’s ball in a terrible position alongside the clubhouse, but the Louth golfer produced an amazing up and down to halve the hole, claim her point, and seal the 5-4 win for Ireland.
‘We’ve been trying for so long, it really is just delightful to be in this position. And I couldn’t have done it without the most amazing team behind me, I mean they played their hearts out day after day” said Ireland Senior Women’s Captain Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) in the immediate aftermath.
Henderson was overjoyed that her team had finally gotten over the line, adding; ‘in my time as captain this is the first time we’ve actually won it, we’ve come close, but never actually won it. So yes I am so pleased for the team, I really am”.
The Irish captain concluded with a special word for her team and it was clear she couldn’t be happier for the group.
‘They have the most amazing camaraderie. We had one woman who dropped her bag on the 12thand came back and caddied for somebody who didn’t have a caddie. They laugh a lot, lots of jokes flying about the place. I just love the way they get on together, they are very special, they are just amazing people, and amazing golfers’.
Meanwhile it was England who claimed the rest of the spoils, including the coveted Overall title, after their Senior Men’s team defeated their Irish counterparts 5.5-3.5. A clean sweep in the morning foursomes for England featured an impressive 5&3 win for Stephen Creed and Danny Holmes, and thus it was always going to be a long way back for the hosts.
Two more points followed for England in the opening pair of singles matches, but with Ireland fighting back, the English were made to wait for the half point that stood between them and glory.
Alan Condren (Greystones) and local David Mulholland (Castlerock) won Matches 3 & 4 in the singles, so attention turned to the penultimate clash between Danny Holmes and Tony Cleary (Spanish Point). A pivotal two-putt for Holmes on 17 took the match to Dormie One in his favour, and so despite a wayward approach on 18 that saw his ball resting out of bounds against the Golf Ireland tournament vehicle, his concession of the hole tied the match and England were confirmed as both Overall and Men’s champions. Ireland lost out by the slimmest of overall margins, 9.5-8.5, after Steve Graham (East Sussex National) secured the final point of the week.
“Over the moon, absolutely over the moon. Incredibly close, tense game as ever, as it always is against Ireland. I think the lads performed great” said England Senior Men’s Captain Andrew Atkinson.
Atkinson went on to pinpoint when he thought the match turned in his side’s favour.
“The foursomes this morning, I think it was a pivotal last game which we looked like we were going to lose but ended up winning it, and three-nil up was a long way back for the Irish men”.
On what it meant to win, it was evident that Atkinson had been waiting twelve months for this moment, and that he intended to savour it.
‘It’s always special, this is my first time to win the Men’s and the Overall. We won the Overall last year but this is very very special for me, and special in such a wonderful place in Castlerock.”
In the other match of the day, Wales came out on top 10-8 overall against Scotland, meaning the Welsh pipped the Scots to third place across the final standings of the Overall, Men’s and Women’s events.
View the results here
Ireland Senior Women’s Team:
Lisa Cullen (Killarney)
Tracy Eakin (Dooks)
Gail Linter (Belvoir Park)
Deirdre Smith (Co. Louth)
Alison Taylor (Malahide)
Deirdre Walsh (Milltown)
Laura Webb (Royal Portrush)
Captain – Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast)
Manager – Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook)
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