By Brian Keogh

Inspired by a brilliant Rory McIlroy, Ireland scorched into the semi-finals of the European Amateur Team Championship in Scotland on Thursday.

The Holywood ace, 18, was in top form as Michael Burns' side thrashed Sweden 6-1 to set up a last four showdown with top seeds England at Western Gailes on Friday.

As England beat Denmark 5 1/2 - 1 1/2, hosts Scotland edged past Spain 4-3 and will face France, who were 5-2 winners over Wales.

Ireland and Sweden shared the morning foursomes with McIlroy and Jonathan Caldwell beating Joel Sjoholm and Tobias Rosendahl 4 and 3.

Shane Lowry and Richard Kilpatrick lost 2 and 1 to Bjorn Akesson and Jesper Kennegard but it was all one way traffic in the afternoon as Ireland won all five singles.

McIlroy led the way with a 4 and 2 win over Jonas Blixt in the top match.

Caldwell and Simon Ward both won 5 and 4 while Kilpatrick had a 3 and 2 win over Akesson and Lowry edged out Kennegard on the last.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Quarter-finals

SCOTLAND 4, SPAIN 3
Foursomes (1-1)
L Saltman & K McAlpine lost to I Urquizu & J Campillo 2 and 1.
R Ramsay & J King bt J Sarasti & P Erice 3 and 1.
Singles (3-2)
Saltman bt I Elvira 4 and 3.
McAllpine bt Erice at 19th.
King lost to Urquizu 2 and 1.
K McNicoll bt Campillo at 19th.
Ramsay lost to Sarasti 2 holes.

WALES 2, FRANCE 5
Foursomes: 0-2.
R Davies & N Edwards lost to A Kaleka & A Bernadet 4 and 2
L Matthews & C Evans lost to J Wolff & V Dubuisson 4 and 3.
Singles: 2-3
Matthews lost to R Bechu 4 and 3.
R Enoch bt K Le Safer 2 and 1.
R Thomas halved with Kaleka.
Davies halved with Bernadet.
Edwards lost to Dubuisson 6 and 5.

IRELAND 6, SWEDEN 1
Foursomes: 1-1
R McIlroy & J Caldwell bt J Sjoholm & T Rosendahl 4 and 3.
S Lowry & R Kilpatrick lost to B Akesson & J Kennegard 2 and 1.
Singles: 5-0
McIlroy bt J Blixt 4 and 2.
Lowry bt Kennegard 1 hole.
Kilpatrick bt Akesson 3 and 2.
Caldwell bt Sjoholm 5 and 4.
S Ward bt Rosendahl 5 and 4.

DENMARK 1 1/2, ENGLAND 5 1/2
Foursomes: 0-2
P Baunsoe & M Madsen lost to J Moul & G Wolstenholme 3 and 2.
P Drost & J Roth lost to D Horsey & G Boyd 5 and 4.
Singles: 1 1/2-3 1/2
Madsen lost to P Waring 3 and 2.
Baunsoe bt J Parry 2 holes.
Drost lost to Boyd 4 and 3.
R Neilsen halved with Horsey.
Roth lost to Mould 1 hole.

FLIGHT TWO
NETHERLANDS 4, Finland 1.
Belgium 1/2, GERMANY 4 1/2.
PORTUGAL 3, Austria 2.
Switzerland 1 1/2, NORWAY 3 1/2

FLIGHT THREE
Turkey 2, ICELAND 3.
CZECH REPUBLIC 3, Italy 2.