Symmons omission has Jackson fuming

Hockey: The day began in utter frustration for Ireland under-21 coach Stephen Jackson when he learned that senior coach Riet Kuper had omitted Loreto's Nikki Symmons from her squad for the European Nations Cup in Barcelona next month.

Jackson's mood lightened somewhat later when his team beat the Czech Republic in Prague to reach the semi-finals of the under-21 European Nations Cup, leaving them just one win away from promotion to next season's A division.

To many hockey-watchers, Symmons's exclusion from the 18-player senior panel is baffling, given her form last season and Kuper's enthusiastic appraisal of her development, and for Jackson the decision to omit her simply heightened his irritation at her "unavailability" for the European tournament - she was taken from his squad by Kuper for the build-up to Barcelona but given few chances to show her worth.

"I'm very disappointed for the girl, she could have made such an impact in Prague," was all he would say yesterday, but privately he was furious.

Symmons's omission from Kuper's final 18 says much about the progress of Ulster youngsters Jenny McDonough and Bridget McKeever, who have both been selected, but leaves a question about Kuper's ability to harness the talents, and temperaments, of Irish hockey's most gifted young players. Symmons's talent remains untapped - she joins Caitríona Carey in that category.

Old Alexandra goalkeeper Nikki King and Hermes defender Fiona Connery earned their places in a squad that features eight changes from the panel that competed in last year's World Cup. Trish Conway's inclusion in a senior "competitive" panel is long overdue. Belfast Harlequins' Suzanne Beaney is, perhaps, the one surprise, having featured very little in the warm-up games.

Goals from Ulster trio Susie Martin, Jessica Lynch and Jan McGowan gave the under-21s yesterday's 3-2 win over the Czech Republic, setting up a semi-final meeting with Italy tomorrow - the winners of which will secure promotion to the A division.