Amateur scene: After the disappointment of finishing only ninth in the men's European Team Championship at Hillside GC, Southport, last week, Irish teams bid for European glory on three fronts this week.
The women's senior team go in search of a first European crown since 1983 in Karlstad, Sweden, while the girls under-18 team is in Lucerne, Switzerland and the boys attempt to show their prowess at Monticello, Italy.
Ireland have won the Home International for the past two year's and team captain Sheena O'Brien Kenney is confident the experience gained in the successes at Cruden Bay and Royal Porthcawl will give the Irish girls the extra boost to qualify for flight one on Wednesday.
"All the team played well in practice on Sunday and Monday," said O'Brien Kenney. "This course at Karstad is of the traditional design with small greens and plenty of bounce in the fairways. The Irish girls have no problem with the length so it will all come down to pitching and putting. But I am confident we can make the top eight."
Ireland have five of the eight players that captured the Home Internationals title at Porthcawl - Claire Coughlan, Martina Gillen, Tricia Mangan, Heather Nolan and Deirdre Smith on duty, plus Tara Delaney, who was unavailable because of studies in the US, so should be among the favourites to lift the title.
Ireland have seldom been in such a strong position. Mangan, won her first Irish Close title just two weeks ago, Coughlan was a finalist in the British Amateur Championship while Martina Gillen won the Scottish Strokeplay earlier in the year, while all three are on the Britain and Ireland Vagliano Team to face the Continent of Europe in Chantilly France later this month.
New English champion Felicity Johnson leads the England line-up. The 18-year-old from Harborne has been selected alongside Emma Duggleby (Malton & Norton), Sian Reddick (Sene Valley), Faye Sanderson (Heworth, Durham), Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).
Wales finished a highly-creditable fourth in Frankfurt two years ago after defeating England in the first matchplay round. Sarah Jones, the Welsh champion, has been battling against injury for much of the last year, but relishes the opportunity of international golf again, while Stephanie Evans is in fine from, having recently won the Pleasington Putter. Both Jones and Evans were in the team that did Wales so proud in Frankfurt.
Wrexham's Jo Nicholson, who took the British mid-amateur title last year, makes her debut as do Natalee Evans and teenagers Breanne Loucks and Lydia Hall, who have both played in the Junior European championships.
Meanwhile, at the weekend, Ireland salvaged some pride at Hillside when they won flight two to finish ninth place in the Men's European Amateur Team Championship. Irish captain Mark Gannon said: "When we did not make the first flight we were determined to win our three matches and finish in the best place possible and that is what we did."
England ended a 14-year wait for the title with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Germany in the final.
IRELAND WOMEN'S TEAM (for the European Team Championships in Karlstad, Sweden): Claire Coughlan (Cork), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Heather Nolan (Shannon), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth). Captain: Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange).
IRELAND UNDER-18 GIRLS TEAM (for the European Team Championships, in Lucerne, Switzerland): Fiona Carroll (Athenry), Sarah Faller (Galway), Emma Gilmore (Mountbellew), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies).
IRELAND BOYS TEAM (for the European Amateur Team Championship, Monticello GC in Italy): Alan Glynn (Porters Park), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Brian Keenan (The Heath), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Seamus Power (West Waterford), Simon Ward (Co Louth). Non-playing captain: Ciaran Burke.
