Roscommon star Olivia Costello secured a thumping 4&3 win as Great Britain and Ireland won the Junior Vagliano Trophy for the first time as they held off Europe by a single point on a dramatic final day.
After seven straight times watching the top girls from the Continent of Europe win the trophy, the home side finally took the silverware winning 8-7.
Great Britain and Ireland carried a one point advantage into the final day and Costello claimed a half point in her foursomes match alongside Charlotte Naughton as they maintained their lead heading into the afternoon singles.
Things took a dramatic turn when when Europe won tight matches to take the first three singles ties before Costello steadied the ship.
The 16-year-old overcame Louise Uma Landgraf and her teammates followed suit with Lauren Crump and Naughton winning the closing three matches to swing the contest back in favour of GB&I.
Costello will make her third successive appearance at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in Carton House next week.
Irish non-playing captain Deirdre Walsh and her six girls ended 13 years of frustration since the inaugural 2011 contest. Last year’s 9-9 draw at Royal Dornoch was the closest any GB&I team had come.
“This is unbelievable,” Walsh said. “I’m absolutely delighted for the girls. They believed in themselves, they really did, and they went out to win their own points. They didn’t run away with themselves, or get ahead of themselves. They focussed on their own matches. They went out to do a job and they did it.
“We were so close last year, and to do it this year is such a thrill. It’s a huge achievement for these girls.”
GB&I built up a 5-4 lead after the morning foursomes, splitting the session 1½ points apiece. It meant Walsh’s team needed three singles wins from six to make history. They didn’t get off to the best of starts with the Continent of Europe winning the first three matches. However, Olivia Costello of Ireland and English players Lauren Crump and Charlotte McNaughton came through to get the home side over the line.
Walsh credited one match with propelling her side to victory, pointing to the half point McNaughton and Costello earned in their foursomes contest against the French pair of Louise Uma Landgraf and Alice Kong. The GB&I girls were four down after six holes but fought back to earn the crucial half point that gave them the advantage heading to singles play.
“That halve was vital this morning, absolutely vital,” Walsh said. “It was a game changer because it gave us momentum for this afternoon. We went into lunch confident, knowing that we could win the cup for the first time. It made the difference.
“It’s just such an achievement to beat the best from the Continent of Europe. These girls can be proud of themselves.”
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