HISTORIC FIRST VICTORY FOR CATALONIA OVER THE IRISH

After ten years and nine international encounters Catalonia has finally recorded a win over Ireland. In a friendly international match this weekend at Platja d'Aro, a brilliant performance by the Catalans in the Sunday singles saw the locals record a 10-6 verdict. The scores were level after day 1, 4 matches each. Ireland led 3-1 after the foursomes but the home side shaded the afternoon fourballs to tie the match overnight. Inspired by long serving Marc Lloret who beat Ireland's No. 1 Ray Murphy in the bottom singles and encouraged by big wins by Joan Perich and Dani Coleman, Catalonia won six of the eight individual jousts to record a famous victory.

FOURSOMES
Catalan names first
Jordi Serra & Daniel Gimenez beat Geraldine Ward & Ray Murphy 1up
Marçal Moré & Marc Garcia lost to John Cahill & Darren O'Reilly 6&5
Salvador Garangou & Joan Perich lost to Sean Downes & John Walsh 3&2
Daniel Coleman & Marc Lloret lost to Chris Scannell & Sean Harkins 2&1
Catalonia 1 Ireland 3

FOURBALLS
Catalan names first
Jordi Serra & Daniel Gimenez beat Geraldine Ward & Chris Scannell 1up
Salvador Garangou & Joan Perich beat Darren O'Reilly & Sean Harkins 1 up
Marçal Moré & Marc Garcia lost to Sean Downes & John Walsh 1 up
Daniel Coleman & Marc Lloret beat Ray Murphy & John Cahill 3&2
Catalonia 3 Ireland 1
Saturday overnight Catalonia 4 Ireland 4

SINGLES
Catalan names first
Daniel Gimenez beat John Cahill 3&2
Jordi Serra lost to Sean Harkins 2up
Marçal Moré beat Chris Scannell 2up
Joan Perich beat Darren O'Reilly 6&5
Daniel Coleman beat Geraldine Ward 6&5
Marc Garcia beat Sean Downes 3&2
Salvador Garangou lost to John Walsh 3&2
Marc Lloret beat Ray Murphy 2up
Catalonia 6 Ireland 2

Overall Result Catalonia 10 Ireland 6

Complete Records of Catalonia v. Ireland Matches

October 18/19 1997 at Solius, Catalonia, Spain. Friendly - Ireland beat Catalonia 14.5 matches to 5.5
June 11 1999 at Chelmsford, England. European Team Championship Group Match - Ireland beat Catalonia 4 matches to 1
July 22/23 2000 at I.G.B., Goatstown, Dublin, Ireland. Friendly - Ireland beat Catalonia 18.5 matches to 1.5
May 5 2001 at Lloret Papalus, Catalonia, Spain. European Team Championship Final - Ireland beat Catalonia 6 matches to 3
April 5/6 2002 at Sant Cebria, Spain. Friendly Ireland beat Catalonia 11.5 matches to 8.5
September 14 2003 at McDonagh, Co. Kildare, Ireland. European Team Championship. Final - Ireland beat Catalonia 5.5 matches to 3.5
August 28 2005 at Overbetuwe, Arnhem, Holland, European Team Championship. Group Match - Ireland beat Catalonia 7 matches to 2
October 21 2007 at Chia, Sardinia, Italy, European Team Championship. Final - Ireland beat Catalonia 6.5 matches to 2.5
March 1/2 2008 at Platja d'Aro, Catalonia. Friendly - Catalonia beat Ireland 10 matches to 6