Matthew queen of Killeen Castle after Irish Open win

Matthew could afford a bogey-5 on the final hole to seal the win with a three-round total of 209, seven-under-par, after a second successive round of 71.

Her European Solheim Cup team-mate Suzann Pettersen of Norway ended a stroke back  after her second straight round of 69, with another Solheim Cup star, Laura Davies, three shots further behind in third.

The finishing holes provided drama in the 2011 Solheim Cup and it again proved the case as Pettersen pushed Matthew all the way on a warm and sunny afternoon mixed with showers in County Meath.

The 2011 event champion, Pettersen, began the final round three shots behind  Matthew but was tied for the lead after 15, where she found the bunker left of the green with her second shot but made a crucial birdie putt from 20 feet.

After Matthew birdied the same hole, Pettersen made an eight-foot birdie putt on the par-three 16th to stay level with Matthew, but she then dropped a shot on 17 after hitting her second shot into the bunker short of the green and missed a 20-foot putt.

There was a two-shot swing when Matthew, playing in the last group behind Pettersen, holed a tricky five-footer to reach eight under with a hole to play.

Pettersen missed her downhill birdie putt on 18 and although Matthew dropped a shot, finding the bunker right, behind the green, two putts were enough to seal the win and the 52,500 euro first prize.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Matthew, claiming her fifth victory on the Ladies  European Tour and her ninth in total. “It’s always difficult going out in the lead.”