Ireland show their true class in defence of title

HOCKEY: Ireland, the defending under-18 boys champions, continue to put up a determined defence of their title at the European Nations Cup in Barcelona where they completed their Pool A campaign yesterday with their third victory in as many days.

Having already beaten France and Russia a 4-3 win over Belgium yesterday saw Stephen Watt's team finish top of Pool A with maximum points, putting them in medal contention again.

After today's rest day they advance to Pool C, made up of the tournament's top four teams, along with Spain and Holland, the top two in Pool B, and Belgium, runners-up in Pool A.

Mark Gleghorne took his personal tally to six goals in two games when he scored twice against the Belgians, with Peter Blakeney also scoring two.

Ireland carry yesterday's victory into Pool C and, so, have just two matches to come, against the hosts and the Dutch.

The under-16 boys finished pointless at the bottom of their pool in Barcelona after losing 3-0 to England but the under-16 girls began their B division campaign in Milan with a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic - Munster's Julie O'Halloran got the only goal of the game.

At Belfield the girls' under-18 team went down to a 4-2 defeat by Spain. Christine Quinlan and Kirsty McCollum brought the hosts back into the game with goals either side of the break, after they had trailed 3-0, but Anna Comerma's second of the game, in the 43rd minute, effectively sealed the points for the Spaniards.

Ireland must beat Holland today, and hope that Spain fail to beat Ukraine, if they are to finish in the top two in their pool.

In the other pool Germany made it a remarkable 22 goals in two games with their 10-0 defeat of Scotland - England, 7-0 victors over France, will join them in the medal play-offs.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP (at Barcelona) - Boys' Division A - Under-18: Ireland 4 (M Gleghorne 2, P Blakeney 2), Belgium 3.

Under-16: Ireland 0, England 3.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP (at Belfield) - Girls' Division A - Under 18: Pool A: Germany 10, Scotland 0; France 0, England 7. Pool B: Holland 9, Ukraine 0; Ireland 2 (C Quinlan, K McCollum), Spain 4.

Today - Pool A: France v Scotland, 12.0; Ukraine v England, 2.0. Pool B: Spain v Germany, 4.0; Ireland v Holland, 6.0.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP (at Milan) - Girls' Division B - Under-16: Pool B: Ireland 1 (J O'Halloran), Czech Republic 0. Today: Ireland v Bulgaria, 6.0.