Ireland begin their bid today to become the first country for almost four decades to win three European amateur team titles on the bounce.

Not since England completed a hat-trick of triumphs in 1973 at Penina, Portugal, has it been achieved — and Ireland know that a stern challenge awaits them at Conwy in North Wales.

There is a new captain in Kevin Flanagan, who succeeds Michael Burns — the man in charge when the Irish won at Western Gailes in Scotland in 2007 when Rory McIlroy and Jonny Caldwell were on the team, with victory over France and in Turin last Summer when they beat the English in the final — and the team is also somewhat different, with Shane Lowry the most notable absentee.

It is a strong team, nonetheless. Niall Kearney, Portstewart’s Paul Cutler and Simon Ward all qualified for the knockout stages of the British Amateur Championship recently, but they were all found wanting when it came to the head-to-head confrontations.

Alan Dunbar, winner recently of the St Andrews Links Trophy, Dara Lernihan and Cian Curley will all make their championship debuts.

Captain Flanagan appreciates the task ahead of his side but believes that they are fired up for the occasion.

“This is a great links course, which suits us well, but with expectations so high, it will be tough,” said Flanagan.