TUAM Golf Club’s Damien Coyne (front, fourth from left), Athenry Golf Club’s David Kitt (front right) and Oughterard Golf Club’s Kate Dillon (back, seventh from left) celebrate with their Ireland teammates. PHOTO: TOM O’HANLON | INPHO

Coyne, Kitt and Dillon play key roles as Ireland regain crown

Success against England secured the overall title

Published: Sun 16 Aug 2026, 10:30 AM

By Daragh Small

THERE was a strong Galway influence as Ireland were crowned Women’s and Men’s R&A Home Internationals champions for just the second time in history after a thrilling victory over England on Friday.

Tuam's Damien Coyne, Athenry's David Kitt and Oughterard's Kate Dillon all played key roles at Woodbrook Golf Club in Wicklow as Ireland won back the trophy they secured in 2024.

The hosts had a narrow lead after the morning foursomes but England bounced back to take four of the women’s singles matches to put themselves in the ascendency.

Nevertheless, Ireland held firm and a remarkable afternoon saw the men claim five matches as Keith Egan finished things off with 3&2 win over Jamie Van Wyk, for a 11.5-9.5 result.

It completes a brilliant month for the men with Damien Coyne’s side claiming European glory for the first time since 2008, while the women had an outstanding week here with victories over Wales and Scotland.

“Delighted, the lads put in some great performances all week. We had an awful lot of matches that went down 18. It was nice to finish a few matches a little bit earlier today,” said Tuam Golf Club's Coyne.

“Some great performances from David Howard, some of the new lads during the week were brilliant, Fionn Dobbin brilliant again today. Keith Egan, class shot into 16 there to finish his match.

“Some really, really good performances. Delighted for Thomas Higgins again, it’s just been a great afternoon.”

It was a powerful morning session from the Irish and they took a 4-3 lead into the afternoon singles.

Katie Poots and Oughterard Golf Club's Kate Dillon held Patience Rhodes and Sophia Fullbrook to a halve, while Rebekah Gardner and Olivia Costello came up short, Emma Fleming and Anna Abom grabbed a crucial 1up win.

Howard and Dylan Keating were comprehensive 4&2 winners, before Gavin O’Neill’s brilliant putt from off the green sealed a 1up result. Athenry Golf Club's David Kitt, a native of Mountbellew, and John Doyle finished tied in their match, and Egan and Dobbin lost the bottom match.

Rhodes and Naughton were first across the line in the afternoon, with Poots securing a 3&1 win. Fullbrook and Lily Hirst also landed points for England but Fleming was also on target with a 1up win.

Daniel Hayes got England off to a winning start in the men’s singles while Doyle was held to a halve. But there were wins for Higgins, Dobbin, Egan and Keating.

England claimed the Men’s and Women’s titles separately, but it was Ireland who won the overall crown for the first time since 2024.

“They did a brilliant job. There was a bit of banter earlier in the week, so the lads promised that they were going to deliver today,” said Ireland Women’s captain Gillian O’Leary.

Along with Dillon, O'Leary's squad also included Katie Poots (Knock), Olivia Costello (Roscommon), Anna Abom (Edmondstown), Emma Fleming (Elm Park), Rebekah Gardner (Clandeboye) and Jessica Ross (Clandeboye).

Kitt, Thomas Higgins (Roscommon), John Doyle (Fota Island), David Howard (Fota Island), Gerard Dunne (County Louth), Dylan Keating (Seapoint), Fionn Dobbin (Malone), Gavin O’Neill (Malahide) and Keith Egan (Carton House) made up Coyne's nine-man squad.