Doherty double leads Ireland A to victory

Brian Doherty's (pictured, tackling) duo of first half drag flicks put Ireland A on the road to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Belgium's U-21 selection this afternoon at Pembroke. Bruce McCandless finished off a good team goal, too, to make it three by half-time and they scarcely looked troubled thereafter.

Peter Caruth provided a lively outlet on the right wing while Johnny Jackson showed why he could well be the man to be Jason Black's long-term replacement at left-back. Skippering the side, he was outstanding once again.

Conor Harte played again today but will be rested on Thursday with Pembroke's EuroHockey Club Trophy commitments at the weekend. College work rules him out of the Irish panel's impending trip to Alicante and so he was called on to play this week.

In the boy's U-16 game, Ireland fell 3-1 to a Belgian side loaded with a high level of technical ability. Belgium controlled the first half but the Irish were unfortunate to concede a stroke in the 29th minute, the ball hitting a foot en route to goal but with the goalkeeper directly behind the Irish defender, a corner seemed a more viable decision.

It was converted for a 1-0 half-time score but Josh Moffett's superb deflection early in the second period evened up the issue. Darren Sweetnam was at the hub of a much improved performance as Ireland got on the ball more often and profited from a higher press.

Nick Burns reverse was well saved while the side won a series of corners but no second goal was forthcoming. A deflected effort put Belgium back in front and they sealed the deal in the last minute with a tidy move, indicative of their neat style, to make it 3-1.

The U-16 girls fell by the same 3-1 scoreline at Belfield despite being level at half-time, courtesy of Rebecca Barry's goal.

Results:

Ireland A 3 (Brian Doherty 2, Bruce McCandless) Belgium 0

Ireland U-16 Boys 1 (Josh Moffett) Belgium 3

Ireland U-16 Girls 1 (Rebecca Barry) Belgium 3

* For pictures from the Ireland A match, click here, and for pictures from the U-16 boys game, click here