THE final tournament of the winter arena season at Polo Wicklow was never going to be a foregone conclusion in the win column for Ireland against USA, the old adversaries of more than 20 years each holding tied scores until the final last Sunday.

USA’s Eileen Flint remained focused on notching up a tournament win; however team-mates Jim de Angelis, Branden Van-Loon along with alternates Liz Brayboy and Sofia de Angelis kept a close eye on one of Ireland’s newest citizens just in case she fell to the temptation of backing the new home team.

USA’s team Captain Flint earned her Irish citizenship in the days before the tournament opened at the start of the weekend, ending on a tie score of four-all, and tied in the second leg at 10-all before Ireland snatched victory away in the final on a score of 12 goals to eight.

Siobhan Herbst captained Ireland to the win along with Colm Kelleher and new mum Caroline Keeling, while alternates Micky and Marco Herbst, Sean Reynolds, Elaine Rice and Francisco Acosta lined out the team.

STAR ATTRACTION

Already working on gaining his feet at just six months old, Caroline Keeling’s young son Joseph Corcoran was the star attraction at the three-course lunch with hosts, Wendy and Micky Herbst in the clubhouse at Polo Wicklow by Tinakilly Country House Hotel & Gardens with live traditional Irish music laid on by the Maguire Family.