The Irish selectors have named four new caps in the team to compete in the Men's Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa in England from September 10th-14th.
Gavin McNeill (Waterford), Stephen Browne (Hermitage), Colm Moriarty (Athlone) and Stuart Paul (Tandragee) will join Ireland's two Walker Cup representatives in a very strong side.
McNeill won the Irish Close title earlier this season and performed capably for most of the amateur calendar. Browne has probably been the country's most consistent amateur golfer this season without winning any of the major domestic titles.
He was beaten in both the Irish Close and South of Ireland finals and also figured prominently in the recent Mullingar Scratch Cup.
Moriarty won the latter event in superb style after the tournament was reduced to 54 holes. Although he contended that his matchplay record has been less than impressive this season when measured against his form in strokeplay competitions, he performed impressively in the recent Interprovincials at Killarney to copper-fasten a place on the national side.
Both Moriarty and Browne are expected to head for Pre-Qualifying and the opportunity to take the first steps on the road to winning a European Tour card in the professional ranks.
Paul's victory in the North of Ireland Championship earned him a place on the side.
The team also contains the West of Ireland (Michael McDermott) and South of Ireland (Justin Kehoe) champions.
The presence of Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell, fresh from their marvellous triumph as part of the Peter McEvoy inspired Britain and Ireland team that beat the US amateur elite in the Walker Cup, should give Ireland a strong chance of winning the Home Internationals. Portmarnock's Noel Fox - he shot a 60 in the second round of the Mullingar Scratch Cup - Tim Rice (Limerick) and Scrabo's Andrew McCormick complete the team.
Meanwhile the Irish women's team will be hoping that home advantage can boost their chances of winning the Home Internationals which begin at Carlow tomorrow. For Ireland's Alison Coffey it represents an opportunity to rubberstamp her selection for the Curtis Cup.
IRELAND WOMEN'S TEAM (for the Home Internationals at Carlow, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday): Yvonne Cassidy (Dundalk), Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Claire Coughlan (Cork), Elaine Dowdall (Wexford), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Hazel Kavanagh (Grange), Sinead Keane (The Curragh), Eileen Rose Power (Kilkenny). Captain: Eavan Higgins (Douglas), Manager: Mary Culliton (The Heath).
IRELAND MEN'S TEAM (for the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa from September 10th-14th): Stephen Browne (Hermitage), Michel Hoey (Shandon Park), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Justin Kehoe (UCD/Birr), Graeme McDowell (Rathmore), Andrew McCormick (Scrabo), Michael McDermott (Stackstown), Gavin McNeill (Waterford), Colm Moriarty (Athlone), Stuart Paul (Tandragee), Tim Rice (Limerick)
