Longford golfer Deirdre Smith the matchwinner for Ireland in Senior Women’s Home Internationals

Ireland are the 2024 Senior Women’s Home Internationals champions after a thrilling final day at Castlerock Golf Club following a thrilling win over England in the title decider on Thursday last.  

The defining matchwinning moment fell to Longford golfer Deirdre Smith (affiliated to Co.Louth GC) whose match was in the balance as she took a 1UP advantage into the last.

An overhit approach saw Smith’s ball land in a terrible position alongside the clubhouse, but the composed Aughnacliffe native produced an amazing up and down to halve the hole, claim her point, and seal the 5-4 win for Ireland.

Having already beaten Scotland and Wales, the Irish Senior Women’s team took an early lead in the morning's foursomes, going undefeated to carry a 2-1 advantage into the singles courtesy of a 2&1 win for Tracy Eakin (Dooks) and Lisa Cullen (Killarney), accompanied by two tied matches.

Royal Portrush’s Laura Webb led Ireland out in the singles and went on to win her match 1UP on the eighteenth, before Eakin notched up her second point of the day with a dominant 5&4 victory in the third match out, meaning Ireland only required one more point to secure the victory and that was achieved by Deirdre Smith. 

“We’ve been trying for so long, it really is just delightful to be in this position. And I couldn’t have done it without the most amazing team behind me, I mean they played their hearts out day after day” said Ireland Senior Women’s Captain Marilyn Henderson (Royal Belfast) in the immediate aftermath.

Henderson was overjoyed that her team had finally gotten over the line, adding; "in my time as captain this is the first time we’ve actually won it, we’ve come close, but never actually won it. So yes I am so pleased for the team, I really am".