The Irish women's tennis team has had nothing quite like it to celebrate before. A 3-0 win over Portugal in the final of Division II of the European Nations championship was claimed on red clay courts at Espinho yesterday.

Team manager, Pete Lowther, claimed the side is the best he has ever seen representing Ireland. "The attitude is right. Although we did not need to win to clinch promotion after Portugal had beaten Malta on Saturday, the girls were determined to take the title in style," said Lowther.

The Irish only dropped one set in the whole series and Kelly Liggan, Yvonne Doyle and, in the doubles, Karen Nugent and Gina Niland duly recorded straight sets wins yesterday.