The Ireland men’s amateur golf team have taken the initiative in the European Amateur team Championship quarter-final at Halmstad, Sweden by taking both the morning foursomes against England to forge a 2-0 lead going into the five afternoon singles.

In the top match Naas' pair Gavin Moynihan and Jack Hume were one down after 15 holes but fought back to win their match against Jimmy Mullen and Ashley Chesters at the 20th while world number 20 Cormac Sharvin and his partner Dermot McElroy beat Sean Towndrow and Ashton Turner, two up.

Meanwhile the Ireland Ladies team took a 2-0 lead over the number one seeds England into the afternoon singles following an excellent performance in the morning foursomes at the Helsingor Golf club in Demark. World number one Leona Maguire in partnership with teenager Olivia Mehaffey beat the English pair of Charlotte Thomas and Haley Davis by two holes in the top match.

Jessica Carty and Maria Dunne were equally resolute in defeating Bronte Law and Meghan Maclaren 2/1 in the second foursomes. Ireland needs to win two of the afternoon's five singles.