Irish draw to prove a boost

After defeats in their opening two women's hockey international practice games in Barcelona this week Irish coach Riet Kuper vowed that her team would get better - she was as good as her word. Yesterday Ireland drew 1-1 with a full strength Spanish side, a result that should do their confidence no harm when they meet the same opposition in August's European Nations' Cup finals.

Lucia Lopez, who scored the only goal of the game between the teams on Tuesday, gave the Spanish the lead after 20 minutes when she fired home from a short corner. Ireland's equaliser, their first goal of the week, came from Sarah Kelleher midway through the second half when Mary Logue switched a short corner left for the Slough player to flick high in to the net.

Logue and Kelleher produced their best displays of the week in the Irish midfield, while, once again, Caitriona O'Kelly and Rachel Kohler were picked out for special mention by their coach after the game. Arlene Thompson, too, earned praise from Kuper, not least for her distribution from the back and solid defending. "We played very well and our work rate was unbelievable," said Kuper. "I can see improvement all the time, although we are still making unforced errors in defence - which, today, resulted in us conceding too many short corners - and we are still missing good chances, but with a bit of work we can put that right.

"After the game the Spanish coach (Dutchman Marc Lammers) complimented our fitness levels and said `your players must have done their homework.' And they have - I gave them all personal fitness programmes and quite clearly they have followed them because they are in excellent condition."

It has been a gruelling week for the 20-player squad, 19 of whom were involved in yesterday's game (Claire Redpath was the only player not to get a run), their third in three days. Each day begins with a two hour training session, followed by a practice game and, in the evening, the squad meets with Kuper to watch and discuss videos of their matches. "Eight 'till eight, that's been their daily schedule so far," said selector Bernie Heffernan. "But we gave them a lie-in today." Phew - until when? "Half eight." And she wasn't joking either. If they don't sleep in Ireland play their final game tomorrow against Germany before returning to Dublin on Saturday.

International practice game: Spain 1 (L Lopez), Ireland 1 (S Kelleher). Tomorrow - Ireland v Germany, 12.0 (Irish time).