CHAMPIONS: Ireland, overall winner of the Men's & Women's Home Internationals. Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Tom O'Hanlon.<\/p>\n
Ireland were crowned Women\u2019s and Men\u2019s Home Internationals champions for just the second time in history after a thrilling victory over England.<\/p>\n
The hosts had a narrow lead after the morning foursomes in Woodbrook, and England bounced back to take four of the women\u2019s singles matches to put themselves in the ascendency.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Ireland held firm and a remarkable afternoon saw the men claim five matches as Keith Egan finished things off with 3&2 win over Jamie Van Wyk, for a 11.5-9.5 result.<\/p>\n
It completes a brilliant month for the men with Damien Coyne\u2019s side claiming European glory for the first time since 2008, while the women had an outstanding week here with victories over Wales and Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelighted, the lads put in some great performances all week. We had an awful lot of matches that went down 18. It was nice to finish a few matches a little bit earlier today,\u201d said Coyne.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome great performances from David Howard, some of the new lads during the week were brilliant, Fionn Dobbin brilliant again today. Keith Egan, class shot into 16 there to finish his match.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome really really good performance. Delighted for Thomas Higgins again, it\u2019s just been a great afternoon.\u201d It was a powerful morning session from the Irish and they took a 4-3 lead into the afternoon singles.<\/p>\n
Katie Poots and Kate Dillon held Patience Rhodes and Sophia Fullbrook to a halve, while Rebekah Gardner and Olivia Costello came up short, Emma Fleming and Anna Abom grabbed a crucial 1up win.<\/p>\n
Howard and Dylan Keating were comprehensive 4&2 winners, before Gavin O\u2019Neill\u2019s brilliant putt from off the green sealed a 1up result. John Doyle and David Kitt finished tied in their match and Egan and Dobbin lost the bottom match.<\/p>\n
Rhodes and Naughton were first across the line in the afternoon, with Poots securing a 3&1 win. Fullbrook and Lily Hirst also landed points for England but Fleming was also on target with a 1up win.<\/p>\n
Daniel Hayes got England off to a winning start in the men\u2019s singles while Doyle was held to a halve. But there were wins for Higgins, Dobbin, Egan and Keating.<\/p>\n
England claimed the Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s titles separately but it was Ireland who won the overall crown for the first time since 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey did a brilliant job. There was a bit of banter earlier in the week, so the lads promised that they were going to deliver today,\u201d said Ireland Women\u2019s Captain Gillian O\u2019Leary.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fairness, the team spirit across the week, the whole team have been brilliant all week. Our girls battled away this afternoon, just didn\u2019t get over the line against England but great performance there so we couldn\u2019t ask any more of them.<\/p>\n