Despite going down to Scotland on the final day, the Irish Senior Women’s team successfully defended their Home Internationals title at Burham and Berrow in England.
Ireland once again went into the tournament as the team to beat and rubber-stamped their credentials with a resounding 6.5 – 1.5 win over home side England on day one.
A significant win from the pairing of Portumna’s Suzanne Corcoran and The Heath’s Catherine Reilly (5&3) in the morning session set the tone ahead of the afternoon singles where Layton & Bettyston’s Carol Wickham scored a massive 6&5 win.
Wickham continued where she left off the next morning against Wales where alongside Cairndhu’s Laura Webb, the perfect partners scored a 5&3 win before Corcoran and Reilly were at it again putting another point on the board with a 5&4 thumping.
A strong afternoon singles performance led by Corcoran (4&3) and Wellinborough’s Mary MacLaren (5&4) inspired Ireland to a 5-3 win over the plucky Welsh side.
And although they failed to secure the clean sweep on the final day, defeated narrowly 4.5-3.5 against the Scots, Ireland’s great work early in the week, once again led by Captain Valerie Hassett, proved enough to earn another Home Senior title.
Ireland’s winning team:
Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna)
Pat Doran (Donabate)
Mary MacLaren (Wellinborough)
Gertie McMullen (The Island)
Catherine Reilly (The Heath)
Laura Webb (Cairndhu)
Carol Wickham (Laytown & Bettystown)
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