10-07-2025
Ireland move into Euro semi-final after emphatic win in Killarney
Ireland will go in search of their first final appearance at the European Amateur Team Championship since 2014 after Stuart Grehan secured the all-important third point of the singles on Thursday to take a 5-2 victory over defending champions Sweden in Killarney.
There was double joy too for Ireland, as the Girls' team have also made it through to the semi-finals of their European Girls' Team Championship in Slaley Hall, defeating England by the same scoreline. They face Italy in Friday's semi-final.
In the Men's competition, the sides shared the spoils in the morning foursomes as Grehan and Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk) defeated Simon Hovdal and Daniel Svard on the 18th hole with Grehan holing the winning birdie, before Alfons Bondesson and Jakob Melin secured a 2&1 victory over Matt McClean and John Doyle.
The first point of the singles would go the way of Matt McClean as he brushed aside the disappointment of the morning defeat in some style. The Malone golfer carding four birdies across his back nine to take control and win his match on the 14th hole, 5&4.
Having sat out the morning foursomes, Amateur Championship runner up, Gavin Tiernan would quickly tag on Ireland's second point, coming from two behind to take a 2up lead on the 15th hole before sealing victory on the 16th as Sweden's Melin conceded the hole and put Ireland just one point away from victory.
While points one and two had come from the second and third matches of the afternoon, it would be match one where the decider would be won.
Grehan, who has led his team out all week, would find himself one down after six holes but fought back, taking wins on the 7th and 10th to turn the deficit around but only briefly as Hovdal immediately answered back, taking the eleventh hole before the Tullamore native once again took control with wins on 14 and 16 handing Grehan a 2up lead going down the 17th.
From there Grehan would go on to close out the win for the Irish team much to the delight of team captain Damien Coyne.
'Really good performance all day and especially this afternoon. Really strong performance so delighted and looking forward to tomorrow already. A really good performance against a really strong team,' said Coyne.
'Hopefully we'll get through tomorrow and build up for a really exciting day on Saturday here then, hopefully we'll get a few supporters around the place, and it will be a fun day.'
With The Open Championship teeing up in Royal Portrush next week the six strong Irish team will hope to channel the memories of 2008 and 2007, when two former Open champions, Shane Lowry (2008 & 2007) and Rory McIlroy (2007) were a part of the victorious Irish team on those occasions.
Ireland now face Denmark, who came through a titanic battle with Germany on Thursday afternoon. The Danes won on the 21st hole in match three to book their place in the semi-final.
On the other end of the draw, England continued their impressive form with a 6-1 victory over Finland before Italy came through 4.5-2.5 against France.
In the ladies event in Chantilly, Ireland suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Sweden.
