While it was a goal-rich weekend on the home front, the internet yielded a disappointing result from Tasmania yesterday morning as the Irish under-21s failed to break the resistance of France and lost 1-0 in the first match of the second phase of the Junior World Cup.
Antoine Gouedard-Comte beat Mark Ruddle from close range to put France ahead after 16 minutes. Although Ireland dominated the second half (nine shots on target to France's one), a failure to convert set pieces cost them dearly.
Ireland now play Canada today and group favourites New Zealand on Wednesday.
Back in Dublin on Saturday, candidates for the Leinster under-21 squad to defend the interprovincial title in January were among the liveliest figures at Belfield where Pembroke Wanderers beat UCD 5-2 in an exhilarating game.
Stephen Tilson seized on a thrust from Paul Fitzroy to give the students a stunning lead and Tilson also scored from a short corner to make it 2-2 at an early stage of the second half. Ken Treacy, Ronan Gormley and Paddy Good, played impressively in the smooth-running Pembroke machine. The champions controlled midfield to create ample opportunities and despite the resilience of the UCD back four, Devin Donnelly, notably, sank two beauties.
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus produced another promising performance in defeating Three Rock Rovers 3-0.
IRELAND (v France, from): M Ruddle; K Burns, D Eakins (capt), A Giles, M Harte D Hobbs, J Hobbs, A Kershaw, P McConnell, S Nicholson, P Smith, S Symington, J Jermyn, J Quigley.
