Teen sensation Martina Gillen proved to be Eavan Higgins' secret weapon in the Ladies' Home Internationals at Carlow yesterday.

Skipper Higgins pitted the big hitting 19 year old against Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy star Becky Brewerton and she came up trumps with a brilliant half as Ireland beat Wales 6-3 on the opening day.

A student at Kent State University, Gillen was five under par for the trip as she smashed five birdies and an incredible eagle two in a tremendous contest.

Said Higgins: "Martina was the only player who could live with Brewerton off the tee and she got a tremendous half for us. To beat Wales today was a great effort but we'll have to be at our best when we meet England tomorrow."

Gillen halved the first in birdie and then holed a 105 yard wedge shot for an eagle two at the 290 yard second to go one up. Further birdies at the third, fifth and seventh left her two up at the turn before she extended her lead to three holes at the 14th.

With her pride wounded, Brewerton rallied with three birdies at the last four holes to square the match at the 18th but it was a valuable half for Ireland.

Said Martina: "I'm disappointed not to have won but she's a great player and she hit the ball miles. At the last she hit it 300 yards but I'm happy to have taken something positive from her."

Leading 2-1 after the foursomes, Ireland took a stranglehold on the match after lunch when Curtis Cup star Alison Coffey scorched to an early five and four win over Sarah Jones Five up at the turn, the Warrenpoint sensation closed out the match with her seventh birdie of the day at the 14th.

She said: "I holed a lot of good putts today. It's a great start but England will be tough to beat tomorrow." Hazel Kavanagh then beat Louise Davis two and one before Gillen and Elaine Dowdall clinched halves that saw Ireland reach the five points needed for victory.

Dowdall was two down against Sara Mountford at the turn but rallied to go one up with four to play. Having lost the 15th to a par, she got back to one up with a brilliant up and down for par at the par three 17th before Mountford snatched a half by holing from almost 30 feet for birdie at the last. Kilkenny's Eileen Rose Power, back after a two-year absence from the Ireland squad after giving birth to her second child, had a fine three and two win over Anna Highgate.

In the other match, holders England beat Scotland 5 1/2 - 3 1/2 and will take on Higgins' battlers today.

Wales 3; Ireland 6
Foursomes: B. Brewerton & E. Pilgrim lost to A. Coffey (Warrenpoint) & E.R. Power (Kilkenny) 2 holes; S. Jones & L. Davis bt C. Coughlan (Cork) & M. Gillen (Beaverstown) 1 hole; K. Evans & K. Phillips lost to H. Kavanagh (Grange) & E. Dowdall (Wexford) 6 & 5. Wales 1; Ireland 2.
Singles: B. Brewerton halved with M. Gillen; S. Jones lost to A. Coffey 5 & 4; L. Davis lost to H. Kavanagh 2 & 1; S. Mountford halved with E. Dowdall; A. Highgate lost to E.R. Power 3 & 2; E. Pilgrim bt Y. Cassidy 3 & 1. Wales 2, Ireland 4.

England 5 1/2; Scotland 3 1/2
Foursomes E. Duggleby & F. More lost to L. Kenney & L. Mackay 1 hole; K. Fisher & R. Hudson bt C. Hargan & S. Wood 1 hole; K. Andrew & F. Brown bt A. Laing & L. Morton 3 & 2. England 2; Scotland 1.
Singles R. Hudson bt L. Morton 3 & 2; F. More halved with L. Kenny ; F. Brown lost to H. Stirling 3 & 2; K. Fisher bt A. Laing 6 & 4 K. Smith lost to L. Mackay 1 hole; K. Andrew bt L. Moffat 3 & 1. England 3 1/2; Scotland 2 1/2.

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© Brian Keogh 2001

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