Ireland through to European team final after defeat of England

Gavin Moynihan in scintillating form to set up decider against Spain

Gavin Moynihan: got Ireland off to great start in the singles with victory over Ryan Evans. Photograph: Getty Images.
Gavin Moynihan: got Ireland off to great start in the singles with victory over Ryan Evans. Photograph: Getty Images.

Ireland will today attempt to win their first European Amateur Team Championship for six years in Finland.

They overwhelmed England 5-2 over the Vanajanlinna course in the Linna region and will now face Spain for the title. The foursomes ended with each team collecting a point but Ireland took complete control in the afternoon singles losing only one match.

Dubliner Gavin Moynihan at the top of the order was again in scintillating form and soon gained the upper hand over Ryan Evans who was the leading individual in the stroke-play phase.

Moynihan,the recently crowned Scottish Open stroke-play champion from The Island won 4&3 to put Ireland in the driving seat.

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Then West Waterford's Gary Hurley won two of the first three holes against Ashley Chesters,was still two up at the turn and romped to a 5&3 victory meaning the Irish needed only another point to make it into the final.

Cormac Sharvin, the 2013 Irish Close champion, continued his amazing run by clinching the point that took Ireland through, defeating Jordan Smith 2&1. Dermot McElroy also triumphed by 2&1 against Ben Stow.

Open-bound Paul Dunne who went down on the last to Toby Tree.