Ireland's under-21 women's hockey players will head for the Antrim coast today and take in a visit to the Old Bushmills distillery. Sampling the product will not form part of the agenda on the rest day at the European Junior Nations Cup Tournament. A 3-3 draw with England at Upper Malone has left the hosts at the bottom of Pool A, so the celebrations have been put on hold.
Yesterday's opponents will not be on the bus which will also stop off at the Giants Causeway. Instead, the English will forego the sightseeing expedition and train at the Queen's University playing fields as both teams face more significant encounters tomorrow in the first of the classification matches. Victory will be essential for Ireland against the Czech Republic and England against Belarus if they are to set up a re-match to determine which nation clinches the crucial fifth spot and retains top flight status in the bi-annual tournament. In contrast, defeat for either team from here on in would be a fatal blow to their aspirations.
In the circumstances, magnanimity rather than the usual intense rivalry was the order of the day yesterday in the knowledge that the tournament really starts tomorrow for those teams for whom a place on the medal rostrum has already proved elusive.
England coach Pete Nicholson decided to give five of his players their first start. Team captain Joanne Fletcher was the archetypal diplomat as befits an intelligent student.
"I would like to compliment the crowd, who were very sporting in their behaviour and cheered on both teams. Ireland gave us a very tough game which we expected but we got the result we wanted," she explained.
Irish coach Adele Sloan was not unduly concerned at the fact her team tossed away a two-goal lead which was achieved in the space of just 18 minutes and had the full house eagerly anticipating a rare win over the old foe.
"I told the players beforehand that the result did not concern me. I don't think it really mattered who we got in the first classification match. What did matter was that we put in a good performance to build on," she claimed. "I don't think there is much real difference between the Czechs and Belarussians, although I know the Czech Republic have nine of the senior team which beat Ireland in the European qualifier in Helsinki last month.
"However, they have looked a little lacklustre so far in the build-up and, hopefully, their legs will be a bit tired. I was happy with the performance especially after we had lost our two opening matches against Germany and Spain."
Anya Bowers and Shauna Parkhill scored from Ireland's first two penalty corners to heighten the expectation. However, goals on either side of half time from Lisa Wooding, also from setpieces, enabled England to draw level by the 57th minute.Kate Walsh then gave England the lead but, showing admirable tenacity, Ireland secured their first point of the tournament through tem captain , Johanna Hyland, who converted a Parkhill switch from another corner with seven minutes remaining.
POOL A: Germany 0, Spain 0; Ireland 3, England 3. Final placings: 1, Germany 7 pts; 2, Spain 7; 3, England 1; 4, Ireland 1. POOL B: Ukraine 4, Belarus 3; Holland 4, Czech Republic 0. Final placings: 1, Holland 9 pts; 2, Ukraine 6; 3, Czech Republic 1; 4, Belarus 1.
