MEMORABLE CLEAN SWEEP FOR IRELAND SENIORS AT FERNDOWN
The Ireland Senior Women's and Men's teams after winning the Home Internationals at Ferndown, England (Photo: England Golf)
Ireland claimed all three of the 2025 Senior Women's and Men's Home Internationals titles after a thrilling finale against England at Ferndown Golf Club in England.
Heading into the final day, Ireland had recorded an impressive 12-6 win over Wales before going down 10-8 to Scotland in a close encounter, meaning only a win would give Ireland any chance of securing the overall honours.
Hosts England, meanwhile, were looking to complete a clean sweep after their two earlier wins, opening with an 11-7 triumph over Scotland before backing it up with a convincing 14-4 victory against Wales. England led the table with their two match points and 25 game points, with both Ireland and Scotland on one match point each. Ireland started the final day in second with 20 game points against Scotland’s 17.
Ireland edged the morning foursomes matches with three wins to England's two, leaving the overall match score at 3.5-2.5, to set up an exciting finish in the afternoon singles. Wins for the foursomes pairings of Laura Webb & Alison Taylor and Deirdre Walsh & Sinead Benedetti were followed by a half point for Deirdre Smith & Maria O'Reilly, meaning Ireland's Women went unbeaten and could add their 2.5 points to Jody Fanagan & Tony Cleary's win.
Both sides traded points early in the singles, with Fanagan continuing his fabulous form by rounding off his week with a 7&6 win in the second singles match. Another point would go England's way before a sea of green splashed up on the scoreboard, which is exactly what Ireland needed if they were to overcome the five game points deficit to England, plus keep Scotland at arm’s length. Scotland dominated Wales in the morning and looked set to play their way into contention.
That green wave featured wins for Karl Bornemann, Tony Cleary, Alan Condren, Laura Webb, Alison Taylor, Deirdre Smith and Sinead Benedetti, which in addition to Gail Linter's halved match meant Ireland earned 7.5 points out of the remaining nine available. This gave a final score of 12-6 in Ireland's favour, with the six-point margin just enough to topple England in the overall standings by one solitary game point. Scotland's 13-5 victory over Wales was only enough to secure third place, one point behind England.
It was a clean sweep for Ireland as the men's team went unbeaten with wins over England and Wales and a tied match with Scotland, while the women's team completed a memorable day by winning their trophy with a total of 17.5 game points, 2.5 points clear of England and Scotland, as all three teams were tied on two wins each.
Speaking afterwards, Laura Webb expressed the team's joy at finally getting the job done.
“It’s absolutely fantastic. Been close the last couple of years and this year to have just got over the line, we’re thrilled.”
The Royal Portrush golfer was one of the stars during the week, winning five of her six matches, which she credited to just hanging in there.
“I think just keeping at it really, the matches have been tough, so just being able to keep going and whatever it was, it worked”
On the men's side, Fanagan shone brightest. He was the only player in the event to go all six matches unbeaten, which he attributed to timing his run just right.
"Well, I think hitting form at the right time is always good, late on in the season. It’s the last event we have to play, the last couple of years haven’t gone great, we’ve struggled."
The Milltown golfer, who was part of the recent European Senior Men's Team Championship success, was clearly delighted to be bringing home more silverware after a tough three days of competition.
"Every match is hard to win. You don’t get points easy, every point is hard earned. Just battled in there, the form was good, and just kept at it, we all did. We had good team spirit, and we came out on the right side of it”
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