Tough draw for Irish

In light of yesterday's draw for the 1999 European Nations' Cup finals the Irish women's hockey team may be tempted to adopt `It's the competing that matters' as their motto when they set off for Germany next August. The draw hasn't just been unkind to Riet Kuper's team, it's been positively cruel. Their Pool B opponents include Germany (bronze medallists at this year's World Cup), Spain (1992 Olympic Champions and runners-up in the last European finals) and England (who won silver at the recent Commonwealth Games).

Completing the Pool B line-up are the Czech Republic, who beat Ireland on penalty strokes in the semi-finals of July's European qualifier in Finland, and the ever-improving Ukraine, the winners of the second qualifier in Sweden.

In Pool A the less formidable Belgium, France, Lithuania, Russia and Scotland have been drawn alongside the Netherlands, the defending European champions. Ireland, who finished ninth in the 1995 European finals, must finish in the top six next summer if they are to avoid having to qualify for the 2003 tournament.