Ireland’s top amateur golfers are set to compete on two fronts this week as the R&A Home Internationals get underway at Cork Golf Club and Woodhall Spa, with four squads aiming to make their mark against England, Scotland and Wales.
This year Brenda Craig (Roganstown) and John Carroll (Cork) will hope home comforts drive their Girls’ and Boys’ to glory on the Little Island course while Men’s team captain Damien Coyne (Tuam) and Women’s team captain Gillian O’Leary (The Island) lead their squads to the home of England Golf, aiming to defend their crown.
Boys’ captain Carroll, a 35-year member of the host club, is optimistic that local knowledge could be a decisive factor in what’s expected to be a highly competitive contest.
“It’s brilliant for the lads to see the course and for the other countries to come and see the course. I’m obviously biased, but I think it’s a great golf course,” said Carroll.
“They can’t wait to represent their country. The fact that it’s in Ireland, all their families, all their friends will be attending. The fact that it’s at home in front of their own family and friends, the lads are super excited, they’re really pumped up.”
John William Burke (Ballyhaunis), Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock), Bruce MacDonald (Lisburn), John Moran (Portmarnock), Barry O’Connell (Douglas), Harry O’Hara (Clandeboye), Isaac Oliver (Glasson) and William O’Riordan (Greystones) make up the nine strong Boys’ squad.
The Irish Girls’ team enters with plenty of momentum following a bronze medal winning performance at last month’s Girls’ European Team Championships in England, where they secured a first medal in 19 years.
Captain Brenda Craig (Roganstown) retains four members from that squad, with Róisín Scanlon (Woburn), Zoe McLean-Tattan (Romford), Kate Dillon (Oughterard) and Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) all teeing up.
They are joined by the Tralee pairing of Ella Moynihan and Lucy Grattan and Esker Hills golfer Ella Cantwell who have all impressed domestically this season.
“It’s the first medal that we’ve won in 19 years, so delighted for the girls, they fought really hard and were very much deserving of their bronze medals,” said Craig.
“We have three new girls joining us, Ella Moynihan who’s topped the Order of Merit and Ella Cantwell and Lucy Grattan who have won three out of the four regional championships between them. Really looking forward to the experience of the four girls teaming up with the three new girls on the panel and very much looking forward to a good week in Cork.”
Meanwhile the Irish Men’s and Women’s team travel to Lincolnshire aiming to build on their historic 2024 victory, when a dramatic 7-7 draw against England on the final day saw the combined team secure victory at Murcar Links.
Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open champion Stuart Grehan (Co. Louth) joins a Men’s lineup that includes East of Ireland winner David Howard (Fota Island), South of Ireland champion Jonathan Keane (Lahinch), Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Sean Keeling (Roganstown), Keith Egan (Carton House) John Doyle (Fota Island), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon) and Gavin Tiernan (Co. Louth).
Bridgestone Order of Merit leader Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) will be part of a seven strong Irish Women’s team alongside AIG Irish Women’s Amateur Close champion Anna Dawson (Tramore), Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye), Anna Abom (Edmondstown), Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Emma Fleming (Elm Park).
Ireland will once again face England, Scotland and Wales with the combined team scores from the Men’s and Women’s matches determining the overall champions. The same format will apply at Cork, where the Boys’ and Girls’ squads will also contest combined honours.
Proceedings get underway at Cork Golf Club on Tuesday morning before action at Woodhall Spa begins on Wednesday.
