Only twice at any level in international hockey has Ireland succeeded in beating Germany. And the side which won 3-2 in the under-21 tournament at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday included eight members of the under-18 team which made the first breakthrough in defeating the Germans (1-0) in the European Youth Olympics in Bath two years ago. David Smyth of Annadale has been the captain on both occasions. The other players who have shared in the dual achievement are Smyth's cohorts in the back four, Chris Jackson, Julian Lewis and Dawie Holley, midfielders Brian Waring, John Ahern and Jason Black (who subdued the German captain and play-maker Philipp Crone) and the indefatigable Graham Shaw up front.

George Blackwood, the coach of both Irish teams, had every reason to be elated. "We more than matched the Germans in every sector and we could have won even more convincingly," he said on Sunday. "We were particularly good in attacking wide down the channels." His assistant Aidan Kidney added: "It's a huge scalp. Now we have the self-belief to take on anyone."

Indeed, Ireland would leap at the opportunity to take up a last-minute vacancy in the junior World Cup at Milton Keynes later this month if Cuba were to withdraw, as has been rumoured this week. Whatever happens, Sunday's victory "will do our hockey a world of good," declared the Irish Hockey Union president, Marius Gallagher, who is delighted to be bowing out of office on such a positive note. As Ireland continue their build-up to next year's European under21 championship, Italy - it seems - will be cannon-fodder on their two-match Dublin visit on September 20th and 21st, even though penalty-corner striker John Ahern will be unavailable.