Coach Riet Kuper was just about the only person not getting carried away by Ireland's 5-1 victory over Italy in a four nations event at Belfield yesterday, stressing that there was still much work to be done.
The five goals were shared amongst three Pegasus players, Arlene Thompson, Claire McMahon and Kim Mills, who scored a hat-trick in only her third international appearance. Mills gave Ireland the lead after just five minutes, slotting the ball past the Italian goalkeeper from a narrow angle, but the visitors levelled two minutes later when Francesa Faustini scored.
Mills restored Ireland's lead in the 28th minute, turning home Mary Logue's shot-cum-cross from the right, and Thompson made it 3-1 five minutes before the break.
Mills completed her hat-trick in the 53rd minute, showing considerable composure in a crowded circle to place her shot past Italy's substitute goalkeeper Stefania Vecchiato, and five minutes from the end her Pegasus team-mate Claire McMahon scored a superb goal when she reverse-sticked the ball into the net. .
Ireland: T Browne, K Humphreys, A Thompson, J Stewart, C O'Kelly, M Logue (capt), D Sixsmith, R Kohler, S Kelleher, K Mills. Subs: T Conway, A Falvey, K O'Brien, C Devine.
Four Nations Tournament (at Belfield) - France 2 (D Altayrac, M Lazennec), Wales 5 (E James, C Jones, R O'Brien 2, R Thomas). Ireland 5 (K Mills 3, A Thompson, C McMahon), Italy 1 (F Faustini).
