Ireland retained their European Pitch and Putt Team championship title with an ultimately comfortable final victory over old rivals Catalonia at Chia in Sardinia (6.5 matches to 2.5).  Foursomes victories by Sean Downes & William Buckley and by team captain Ray Murphy along with Derek Courtney had given Ireland a vital 2-1 halfway advantage.  In truth, the foursomes could have gone either way with Courtney forced to hole a tricky par putt on the home green in the bottom foursomes to secure a one hole verdict.  In fact, all three of the foursomes went the full distance with Downes pitching close at the 65 metre eighteenth to clinch the other foursomes win. 

In the singles, European championship debutant Paul O'Brien romped to an eight birdie 7&6 win over Joan Poch.  Simultaneous singles victories by four-time European championship winner Liam O'Donovan (by 2&1 against Marc Lloret) and by Ireland's record international points gatherer Sean Downes (by 4&3 over David Sole) gave Ireland the required number of points.  Derek Courtney edged out Daniel Coleman by 2&1 while Ireland's only singles loss came when William Buckley, fighting a recalcitrant putter, fell to Jordi Serra.  After an enthralling battle, which produced seventeen birdies, Ireland's no. 1 ranked player Ray Murphy offered a generous half to Fernando Cano, who had earlier produced a 96, the leading individual score in Friday's qualifier.

Elsewhere, Great Britain stunned Holland with a singles fightback to take third place on a countback after 4.5-4.5 tie.  Andorra defeated Norway to place fifth on their maiden championship appearance.  Italy were too good for France in the 7^th/8^th place play-off while San Marino pipped Switzerland for ninth.