Irish amateurs gear up for European Team Championships
The Irish European Men's Team Championships team set to compete at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club this week (L-R) Matthew McClean, Thomas Higgins, Gavin Tiernan, Caolan Rafferty, Stuart Grehan, John Doyle.
Ireland's top amateur golfers are ready to make their mark on the European stage as four teams gear up for the European Men’s, Women’s, Boys’, and Girls’ Team Championships this week.
From Chantilly to Slaley Hall, Czechia to Killarney, 24 of Ireland’s elite amateurs are primed for an exciting week and with experienced names and rising stars in each squad, hopes are high for strong performances across the continent.
Scoring European Men’s Amateur Team Championships
European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championships
European Boys' Amateur Team Championships
European Girls’ Amateur Team Championships
The Men’s Team will look to turn home advantage into medal-winning contention as the event is set to tee up at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, 50 years since it was last held at the historic venue in 1975.
“It’s incredibly special because of the fact that it was there 50 years ago,” said team captain Damien Coyne.
“Colin (Finlay), the manager and all the staff down there, have been very good the couple of times we have been down, so we're looking forward to being on home turf and giving it a go down there.”
Killarney Golf & Fishing Club
John Doyle (Fota Island), Stuart Grehan (Co Louth), Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), Matthew McClean (Malone), Caolan Rafferty (Dundalk), and Gavin Tiernan (Co Louth) form a strong six-man lineup led by Coyne, manager Mark O’Sullivan and coach Michael Collins.
Coyne, who stepped into the captaincy role last year, is relishing the opportunity, and with the European field stacked with quality, Ireland’s strategy is clear.
“The game plan is just to go and get after it,” said Coyne.
“We have to be positive and aggressive. The course lends itself to some positive play. There are plenty of opportunities out there.”
The team includes players in outstanding form. Doyle earned his call-up with wins at the Flogas Irish Boys’ Amateur Open Championship, Munster Men’s Amateur Open Championship along with a runner-up finish at the St Andrews Links trophy.
Others are coming in off the back of significant performances too with Higgins also impressing at St Andrews, while Tiernan's run to the final of the Amateur Championship solidified his place on the team. With seasoned players like Grehan, McClean, and Rafferty, rounding out the group, Coyne feels they have a nicely balanced squad.
“It’s a very good bunch, nice mix of youth and experience and a lot of people in good form,” said Coyne.
“To win the Europeans anywhere would be incredibly special. But to do it at home in Ireland would be even more special again. That’s what we’re aiming to do.”
The Irish Women's European Team Championships Team. (L-R) Rebekah Gardner, Anna Dawson, Aine Donegan, Emma Fleming, Beth Coulter, Marina Joyce Moreno.
In France, the Irish Women’s Team will seek to turn form and familiarity into winning potential. Captain Gillian O’Leary, who has known many of the players since their early teens, is encouraged by the team dynamic and recent performances.
“They were all buzzing after playing in the Women’s Irish Open last week,” said O’Leary.
“That experience gave them a real confidence boost.”
All six players competed at Carton House with Emma Fleming (Elm Park) finishing as the top Irish amateur. Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle) and Áine Donegan (Lahinch) too bring form into the event as they come to Chantilly fresh from victory with the Vagliano Trophy team.
“Beth and Áine have been doing great things but everybody else is very experienced too,” said O’Leary.
“They've travelled the world, most of them are in college in the States. Rebekah and Marina are new to the women's team, but they've played on Irish teams before as well. They all know how to manage themselves.”
Having taken in a practice round on Sunday, O’Leary and her team of Clodagh Walsh (Manager) and coach Donal Scott know that patience and precision will be key when play gets underway tomorrow morning if a gold medal is to return home for the first time since 1983.
“The game plan is one day at a time, so we'll just try to keep them focused. It's just taking your opportunities when they come without forcing it,” said O’Leary.
“It's just a matter of time until we win again, and hopefully it'll be this week.”
The Irish Boys' European Team Championships Team. (L-R) Louis Goodman, Caolan Coleman, John William Burke, Isaac Oliver, William O'Riordan, Adam Fahey.
The Boys’ Team, captained by John Carroll, heads to the Czechia full of enthusiasm and belief and with six rookies, the squad represents a wave of promising young talent.
“They're all really excited. None of them have been there before,” said Carroll.
“It’s a great chance for the lads to show what they’re made of.”
Form is trending in the right direction too with William O’Riordan (Greystones) entering the week having claimed victory at the Connacht Boys’, while John William Burke (Ballyhaunis), Caelan Coleman (Galway Bay), Adam Fahey (Portmarnock), Louis Goodman (Co Louth), and Isaac Oliver (Glasson) have all posted strong results this year.
“They've all had top fives in Boys’ and Men's tournaments since April. We’ve been to the Scottish Boys’, French Boys’, and Fairhaven Boys’ so they've been all over Europe, and they've all played really well,” said Carroll.
“They're all ticking along nicely, and they've all done well over the last few months.”
With it being 25 years since Ireland last medalled in the event, Carroll knows the significance.
“The six lads are gelling and pulling together. Hopefully we can bring something back,” said Carroll.
“The lads deserve it. They've put in a big shift over the winter up in Carton House every second weekend since Halloween. I really hope for them that we have some success.”
The Irish Girls' European Team Championships Team (L-R) Kate Dillon, Zoe McLean-Tattan, Olivia Costello, Roisin Scanlon, Kayleigh Mulholland, Hannah Lee-McNamara
Brenda Craig leads the Girls’ Team to Slaley Hall in England, where a close-knit group aims to convert recent successes into European glory.
“We had Roisin (Scanlon) win the Helen Holm, Zoe (McLean-Tattan) winning the Irish girls and Olivia (Costello) playing across Europe, playing in the final of the Spanish Amateur Ladies. We had Hannah (Lee-McNamara) win the Connacht Girls’ Championship,” said Craig.
“Kate (Dillon) has been playing and practicing while doing exams, as has Kayleigh (Mulholland) and they all played in the Women's Amateur Open in Headfort. They all performed very well. Myself, Chris (Jelly) and Mary (Doyle) are really happy with the way they're playing coming into this week so hopefully they deliver.”
With deep bonds formed over years of competing together, team chemistry will be a major asset.
“These girls have been playing together since they were 11 or 12,” said Craig.
“They’ve grown up together on Irish teams and that really helps during weeks like this.”