Gordon Elliott, called into the squad as an 11th hour replacement, scored twice on his international debut as Ireland beat Scotland 2-1 in their opening match in the Scottish Hockey Association's centenary tournament at Peffermill, Edinburgh, yesterday.
Earlier, the Irish women's team, fielding a re-shuffled defence, lost 3-1 to a more mature Scottish side.
The men's encounter was scoreless at half time, but Ireland were much the more assertive combination and duly took the lead in the 51st minute when, following a thrust by Julian Stevenson, the eager Elliott whipped home his first goal.
Keeping up the pressure, Elliott made it 2-0 from a Chris Jackson opening, before the only lapse by the Irish cover allowed David Ralph to get one back for the Scots in the dying stages.
In addition to Elliott, Mark Black enjoyed a winning debut while Paddy Brown and Mark Raphael epitomised the confidence being established by John Clarke's developing side. With the Atlanta Olympic finalists, Holland and Spain, drawing 1-1 yesterday, Ireland last night led the table - temporarily, of course.
The Irish womens team found themselves three down to Scotland after 20 minutes as the host country scored from short corners through Susan Fraser (direct hit) and Valerie Thomson (third phase), followed by an admirable open-play goal by Susan McDonald.
With the defence settling down in the second half, however, Ireland took the game to the Scots. Daphne Sixsmith, Rachel Kohler and Mary Logue were stabilising figures and, with Lynsey McVicker probing strongly, they were rewarded with a set-piece reply by the ultra competitive Catriona Carey, while Jenny Burke barely failed to make a further breakthrough.
Claire Redpath, steady at the back, and Cathy McKean gained their first caps on the weekend of the Royal Highland Show.
IRELAND (Men) - N Henderson; D Smyth; A Dowd (capt), E Lutton, P Brown; J Black, S Butler, N Buttimer; C Jackson, J Sherriff, M Raphael. Subs: J Stevenson, M Black, I Steen, G Elliott.
IRELAND (women) - T Browne; D Sixsmith; S Parkhill, R Kohler, C O'Kelly; M Logue (capt), C Carey, L Brown; J Orbinson, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: K Mills, K O'Brien, C Redpath, C McKean.
