European U-18 Championships: Day three

EuroHockey Girl’s Youth Championships
Ireland 1 (Ali Meeke) England 3 (Shona McCallin, Rebecc Dru, Holly Chipman)
Following Belgium's 3-0 win over France, Ireland were left with the tough task of needing to beat England by three clear goals in the final group B. They started brightly with Deirdre Duke's magical build-up play setting up Ali Meeke for the opening goal in the 10th minute.

The English equalised, however, in the 23rd minute to knock the stuffing out of the Irish offensive. A penalty stroke five minutes after the break and a corner goal ten minutes from time sealed the deal. Ireland now face Lithuania in the relegation play-offs on Saturday.

* For more pictures from Ireland vs England, click here

Results:
Group A: Belgium 3 France 0; Ireland 1 (A Meeke) England 3
Group B: Lithuania 1 Russia 2; Netherlands 0 Germany 0

Standings:
Group A: 1. England 9pts (+7) 2. Belgium 6pts (+4) 3. Ireland 3pts (-1) 4. France 0pts (-6)
Group B: 1. Germany 7pts (+15) 2. Netherlands 7pts (+10) 3. Russia 3pts (-7) 4. Lithuania 0pts (-18)

EuroHockey Boy's Youth Trophy
Ireland U-18 Boy's 2 (Stephen Cole, Shane O'Donoghue) Switzerland 2
Shane O'Donoghue rescued a semi-final place for Ireland in the EuroHockey Youth Trophy with a strike seven minutes from the end of their tussle with Switzerland.

Ireland struggled in the first half and trailed 2-0 by the break. But Stephen Cole latched onto a broken down corner early in the second period to give his side a lifeline.

Near constant pressure was eventually rewarded in the closing stages as O'Donoghue continued his rich run of goals, rebounding off his own initial shot to nick the last four place. They will play Wales in the last four.

EuroHockey Youth Trophy results:
Group B: Austria 5 Ukraine 1; Ireland 2 (Stephen Cole, Shane O'Donoghue)
Group A: France 1 Wales 3; Croatia 3 Italy 4

Group B Standings: 1. Austria 9pts (+10) 2. Ireland 4pts (+2) 3. Switzerland 4pts (-3) 4. Ukraine 0pts (-9)
Group A: 1. Wales 9pts (+15) 2. France 6pts (+16) 3. Italy 3pts (-7) 4. Croatia 0pts (-24)