Ireland got off to a disappointing start in their defence of the Home International matches at Royal Portrush when they were held to a tie by England at Royal Portrush.

The triple crown is no longer possible and Tony Goode's men must now beat Wales today andEuropean champions Scotland on Friday to have any chance of retaining the Raymond Trophy. 

Scotland beat Wales 11.5-3.5 as Ireland were held 7.5-7.5 by England with Paul Kinnear clinching the halved match overall with a half against Stuart Grehan.

If Jack Hume and Gavin Moynihan were hoping to make an impact as a potential Walker Cup pairing, they didn't achieve it as they lost 4 and  2 to Ben Taylor and Tomasz Anderson.

Still, Ireland forged a 3-2 foursomes lead with wins for Dermot McElroy and debutant Colin Fairweather over Ashley Chesters and Jimmy Mullen (4 and 2), Paul McBride and Grehan over Kinnear and Jamie Bower (2 holes) and John-Ross Galbraith and Colm Campbell over Ashton Turner and Sean Towndrow (4 and 2).

In the singles, Ireland started well but eventually managed just three wins and three halved matched from 10 despite  lunchtime talk from Garth McGimpsey.

Again, the top guns failed to fire with Hume halving with Mullen andMoynihan beaten by Chesters. 

Instead it was the debutants who played best with Fairweather winning his second match by 6 and 4 over Tomasz Anderson and Rowan Lester seeing off Ashton Turned 2 and 1.

Grehan had a chance to close out overall victory for Ireland but he drove into bushes and lost the 18th to Kinnear who saved England from defeat with a halved match.

Scotland were far too good for Wales winning 11.5 - 3.5 and while they will have their tails ups, Ireland can look to the impressive performances from their debutants as reason to be confident going forward.

Fairweather, Grehan, Lester and McBride all won points while Alex Gleeson only lost his foursomes with Robin Dawson by the minimum. 

If the experienced players perform, all is not yet lost.

Home Internationals, Royal Portrush Golf Club (supported by Fairstone Financial Management)

Day One

Ireland 7.5  England 7.5  (Ireland names first)

Foursomes 

1. Gavin Moynihan & Jack Hume lost to Ben Taylor & Tomasz Anderson 4/2
2. Dermot McElroy & Colin Fairweather beat Ashley Chesters & Jimmy Mullen 4/2
3. Robin Dawson & Alex Gleeson lost to Alfie Plant & Dan Brown 1 hole
4. Paul McBride & Stuart Grehan beat Paul Kinnear & Jamie Bower 2 holes
5. John-Ross Galbraith & Colm Campbell beat Ashton Turner & Sean Towndrow 4/2

Singles

1. Jack Hume halved with Jimmy Mullen 
2. Gavin Moynihan lost to Ashley Chesters 2 holes
3. Dermot McElroy lost to Joe Dean 2/1
4. Colin Fairweather beat Tomasz Anderson 6/4
5. Robin Dawson lost to Alfie Plant 1 hole
6. Rowan Lester beat Ashton Turner 2/1
7. Colm Campbell halved with Ben Taylor 
8. Paul McBride lost to Sean Towndrow 1 hole
9. Stuart Grehan halved with Paul Kinnear 
10. John Ross Galbraith beat Jamie Bower 3/2

Scotland 11.5  Wales 3.5 (Scotland names first)

Foursomes 

1. Graeme Robertson & Jack McDonald beat David Boote & Michael Hearne 6/5
2. Connor Syme & Robert McIntyre beat Ben Westgate & Tim Harry 1 hole
3. Matt Clark & Barry Hume  lost to Jack Davidson & Tom Williams 1 hole
4. Craig Howie & Craig Ross beat Zach Guilford & Evan Griffith  2/1
5. Daniel Young & Greig Marchbank  beat Owen Edwards & Richard James 1 hole

Singles

1. Jack McDonald beat David Boote 3/2
2. Graeme Robertson beat Michael Hearne 3/2
3. Robert McIntyre beat Joshua Davies 2 holes
4. Connor Syme lost to Ben Westgate 3/2
5. Matthew Clark beat Evan Griffith 7/6
6. Craig Howie  beat Jack Davidson 6/4
7. Ryan Campbell beat Tim Harry 1 hole
8. Barry Hume beat Zach Guilford 1 hole
9. Greig Marchbank lost to Owen Edwards 2/1
10. Daniel Young halved with Richard James

Day Two - Schedule

Ireland v Wales (Ireland names first)

Foursomes (7.30am at 10-minute intervals)

1. Gavin Moynihan & Jack Hume v David Boote & Tim Harry
2. Dermot McElroy & Colin Fairweather v Owen Edwards & Richard James
3. Robin Dawson & Rowan Lester v Jack Davidson & Tom Williams
4. Paul McBride & Stuart Grehan v Ben Westgate & Joshua Davies
5. John-Ross Galbraith & Colm Campbell v Evan Griffith & Zach Galliford

Singles (12.30pm at nine-minute intervals)

1. Jack Hume  v David Boote
2. Gavin Moynihan v Michael Hearne
3. Dermot McElroy v Owen Edwards
4. Colin Fairweather v Ben Westgate
5. Rowan Lester v Richard James
6. Alex Gleeson v Jack Davidson
7. Stuart Grehan v Tom Williams
8. Colm Campbell v Tim Harry
9. Paul McBride v Zach Galliford
10. John Ross Galbraith v Joshua Davies

Scotland v England (Scotland names first)

Foursomes

1. Graeme Robertson & Jack McDonald v Ashley Chesters & Jimmy Mullen
2. Daniel Young & Greig Marchbank v Ben Taylor & Tomasz Anderson
3. Matt Clark & Barry Hume  v Alfie Plant & Dan Brown
4. Robert McIntyre & Connor Syme v Paul Kinnear & Sean Towndrow
5. Craig Ross & Craig Howie v Ashton Turner & Jamie Bower

Singles

1. Jack McDonald v Ashley Chesters
2. Graeme Robertson v Jimmy Mullen
3. Daniel Young v Joe Dean
4. Barry Hume v Dan Brown
5. Greig Marchbank v Alfie Plant
6. Matt Clark v Ben Taylor
7. Craig Howie v Tomasz Anderson
8. Ryan Campbell v Sean Towndrow
9. Robert McIntyre v Ashton Turner
10. Connor Syme v Paul Kinnear​