Irish produce first ever Home Nations double

Ireland’s U-18 boys and girls completed a first ever Home Nations double at Garryduff yesterday, both picking up the results they required from their final game of the four nations competition.

Needing only a draw to annex the title, the boys recorded a comfortable 4-0 win over Wales while the women cut it much finer.

They lost 1-0 to Scotland but prevailed in a three-way tie in the final standings with the Scots and England by virtue of a single strike on goal difference.

Shane O’Donoghue, again, was the inspiration for the boys, bagging his second hat-trick in three days to bring his tournament tally to seven in total. It was a consummate performance in spite of tired legs as Ireland played on the counter-attack to perfect effect.

The Glenanne man made the first for himself, bursting through from halfway before exchanging a pass with Luke Chadwick. O’Donoghue’s run was illegally cut short by the Welsh goalkeeper but he dusted himself off to convert the ensuing penalty stroke for the only goal of the first half.

He added a penalty corner drag-flick before nut-megging the goalkeeper for the third of the day. Tom Samuel completed the rout when he won possession in midfield, found the ubiquitous O’Donoghue who drew the goalkeeper before laying up for the diving Samuel at the back post to score.

The girl’s success – their first ever at this level – was a much tighter affair as Sarah Robertson’s 12th minute goal left Ireland on tenterhooks for the remainder of the tie.

Richie Malone’s side largely dominated with Vanessa Surgeoner and Katie Codyre both striking the post while the fine work of Emily Beatty, Nicola Gray and Dora Gorman helped create a series of chances.

None were completed, though, to leave Ireland susceptible to a counter-attack that might dash their hopes. It never came and left the girls in green top on goal difference.

U-18 Boys Home Nations results
Ireland 4 (S O’Donoghue 3, T Samuel) Wales 0; England 5 (N Bandurak 2, W Byas, J Hardy, N Giles) Scotland 0

Final standings:
1. Ireland 9pts (+7) 2. England 6pts (+8) 3. Wales 3pts (-3) 4. Scotland 0pts (-12)

U-18 Girl’s Home Nations result
Ireland 0 Scotland 1 (S Robertson)

Final standings (points/goal difference):
1. Ireland 6pts (+2) 2= Scotland 6pts (+1) 2= England 3pts (+1) 4. Wales 0pts (-4)

* For Ondine Roche and Simon MacAllister's photos on Irish Hockey Photographers from the weekend of action at Garryduff, click here. Adrian Boehm's photos will be added during the week.



** To follow Irish Hockey Photographers on Facebook, click here while the group's Twitter feed is here

U-18 double on cards for Irish

An U-18 Home Nations double is still on the cards as the Irish boys and girls both overcame England at Garryduff this afternoon and require a single point from tomorrow’s third series of games to annex their respective titles.

Tom Samuel struck twice to overhaul an English first half lead in the boy’s game to notch a 2-1 win as they prevailed in spite of three yellow card sin-binnings.

The Three Rock player was ideally placed to profit from the corner injector’s spot as two rebounded his way to cancel out Josh Guy’s earlier effort.

The English forward snapped up the lead from a corner move. Mark Ingram smothered an initial switch left and deflection but Guy grabbed the second phase effort. Things went from bad to worse 30 seconds later when Andy Williamson was binned for a high take but Ireland rode out until the break.

And, with England’s Alex Czerniweski sitting out a spell in the bin, Ireland were back on terms from their third corner. Shane Madeley’s pacy drag was saved brilliantly by Harry Gibson’s stick but popped waist-high for Samuel to volley first time with serious power for the leveller.

The winner came six minutes later when Ben Dobson powered down the right wing, winning another corner which Shane O’Donoghue dinged off the right post and while William Edgar almost scored the rebound, Samuel completed the job from close range.

It came moments after Richard Sykes vitally cleared Nick Bandurak’s ball while Ian Sloan – again forging a fine midfield partnership with Luke Chadwick – set up O’Donoghue for what might have been an insurance goal but his slip to Edgar was just an inch too far from reach.

England had two late corners denied but the Irish, though, were good value for the win, looking the more incisive at either end and now need a draw against Scotland to take the title.

The same proposition awaits the girls against Scotland with another deserved victory. Katie Codyre netted the only goal in the 58th minute after inspirational Dora Gorman broke a couple of tackles in midfield and played in Emily Beatty.

The Alex winger’s cross-cum-shot invited the deflection from Colaiste Iognaid’s Codyre to put the Irish in pole-position.

Home starlet Amy-Kate Trevor held the defence in shape in fine style after switching early from left back to the centre in place of the injured Nicole Laarhoven and Joanne Orr almost sealed the tie, drawing an excellent save from Dukie Davies with Gorman’s follow-up brilliantly taken off the line.

The Irish now play the Scots, who kept them mathematically themselves in the hunt for glory thanks to a 2-1 win over Wales.

Heather Elder did the damage, scoring both her side’s goals, to add to her strike in the 2-1 reverse to England. The Scottish vice-captain’s pace has been difficult for all defences to deal with, and she will have to be well shackled by Richie Malone’s side tomorrow.


U-18 Boy’s Home Nations Day two results:
Ireland 2 (Tom Samuel 2) England 1 (Josh Guy); Scotland 0 Wales 5 (F Campbell 2, M Pacey 2, S Forman)

Standings: 1. Ireland 6pts (+3) 2. England 3pts (+4) 3. Wales 3pts (0) 4. Scotland 0pts (-7)
Monday: England vs Scotland, 8.30am; Ireland vs Wales, 12.30pm.

U-18 Girl’s Home Nations day three results:
Ireland 1 (Katie Codyre) England 0; Wales 1 (N James) Scotland 2 (H Elder 2)

Standings (played-points; goal difference): 1. Ireland 2-6pts (+2) 2. England 3-6pts (+1) 3. Scotland 2-3pts (0) 4. Wales 3-0pts (-3)
Monday: Ireland vs Scotland, 10.30am

* Photos courtesy of Adrian Boehm, more to follow on www.irishhockeyphotographers.zenfolio.com  on Tuesday.

Gray and Surgeoner fire Irish U-18s

Nicola Gray’s corner smash and Vanessa Surgeoner’s deliciously timed second half strike handed Ireland the win their dominance deserved against Wales at Garryduff this evening for whom goalkeeper Roseanne Thomas was outstanding.

Gray battered home a trademark corner from the girls in green’s first set piece in the fifth minute but from then on Thomas kept out numerous of her straight hits – five of six were on target – as well as a Rebecca Barry drag-flick to keep Ireland at bay.

Captain Deirdre Duke (pictured) was also denied from play when she was unable to convert a difficult bouncing ball when well-placed while Dora Gorman pulled the strings to great effect and Gray performed admirably in the back four, inside the tidy Aisling Naughton.

Second half sin-binnings to Surgeoner and Leah Ewart scarcely opened the door for the Welsh and the former responded brilliantly to some ribbing from the stands in the wake of her yellow card.

On her return, Gorman intercepted in midfield and played in the Ulster player who dinked a delightful strike over the goalkeeper to silence the dissenters.

It came in the 64th minute, two minutes after Lucy Thayer had brilliantly nicked the ball off Ewart’s stick after Emily Beatty raced down the right flank. Ireland face tournament leaders England on Sunday.

It is the English team’s final tie, beating Wales on Friday night 2-1 and following up with a 2-1 success over Scotland today with Josie Inverdale – daughter of BBC presenter John – on the mark.

U-18 Girl’s Home Nations standings (played-points, goal diff)
1. England 2-6pts (+2) 2. Ireland 1-3pts (+2) 3. Scotland 1-0pts (-1) 4. Wales 2-0pts (-3)

* Photos courtesy of Ondine Roche

O'Donoghue's four downs Scotland

Shane O’Donoghue’s brilliant quadruple fired Ireland’s U-18 boys to a 4-2 win over Scotland in their opening Home Nations tie at Garryduff this afternoon, firing three inside the first half.

It was a tally of sheer quality as the Irish held off a Ben Peterson-inspired second half fightback when the Irish looked to have let their early dominance slip.

The Glenanne man (pictured) opened the scoring inside 90 seconds, following up his own rebound to break the deadlock. Ireland dominated for the remainder of the half, O’Donoghue miscuing the best chance after Luke Chadwick teed him up one-on-one, but two goals within the 34th minute were to eventually reflect the pressure on scoreboard.

O’Donoghue drifted across the circle before firing home a crisp, open-side bullet across the Scottish goalkeeper’s bows for 2-0.

And his third was equally classy. Nick Burns took down an overhead and squared for O’Donoghue to rip the net with a reverse and a three goal half-time advantage.

But Scotland took advantage of some lacks Irish play after the interval, Peterson reversing home from the left after a quick counter for a lifeline and, in the 47th minute, he slid home again on his back-hand from Peter Baldwin’s square ball.

Their ascendancy, though, was cut short when Iain Duke was sin-binned for a robust challenge on Chadwick and, with him in the bin, O’Donoghue rolled home his fourth after Burns laid on with some fine legwork three minutes from time.

Tom Samuel impressed at the back as did Ben Dobson on the right-side of defence and will need to be on form again tomorrow when they face England. They demolished Wales 5-0 in the day’s opening fixture.

U-18 Boys Home Nations, standings
1. England 3pts (+5) 2. Ireland 3pts (+2) 3. Scotland 0pts (-2) 4. Wales 0pts (-5)

* Photos courtesy of Ondine Roche

Girls settle for fourth; boys evade relegation

Ireland U-16 girls rallied late but left it too late as Belgium took bronze at the European Championships in Barcelona with a 2-1 win to end a dramatic week.

Sharp-shooter Katie Mullan fired home a 64th minute corner and pressure in the closing minutes earned another corner on the final whistle for Ireland. But they were unable to convert a set-piece which would have earned extra-time in the third/fourth place playoff.

Belgium had whipped into a 2-0 half-time lead of a tie short on chances. Ireland’s defence, meanwhile, shone in the second period but clear chances only came to the fore belatedly and while the Irish girls poured forward in the last ten minutes, the Belgians stuck it out.

The boys, meanwhile, retained A division status with a 2-2 draw against Poland, playing for the fifth successive game in the midday heat. A ten goal win was needed to snaffle fifth place but that never looked likely and the single point was enough to relegate the Poles.

It was 38 degrees this time around but Ireland recovered from the concession of a seventh minute corner drag-flick to lead 2-1.

David Cole – who was outstanding next to Matthew Rollins in the centre-backs – equalised with a corner effort before Scott Sullivan’s pass picked out Kirk Shimmins to slot home a one-on-one effort.

Again, sharpness in front of goal was a factor in not killing off the tie as two Polish players were sin-binned. They nicked an equaliser a couple of minutes from time with a smart deflection but Ireland held on to stay up.

It ended an, at times, frustrating week for the Irish boys who were competitive in each game and might have pushed on for a medal on another week.

They created numerous chances but lacked the cutting edge – perhaps due to no competitive warm-up fixtures and a three month wait since the school’s league season – to grab vital goals.

U-16 Boys European Championships – Group C final table
1. Russia 7pts (+12) 2. Ireland 5pts (+3) 3. Poland 4pts (-1) 4. Czech Republic 0pts (-15)

Irish react angrily to Dutch "physical" claims

Ireland U-16 girls' management have reacted angrily to Dutch claims of an overly robust approach described as "totally inappropriate" in the wake of their 5-1 semi-final defeat yesterday afternoon.

Speaking to hockey.nl, Dutch coach Kai de Jager said: "It was just physical force/violence which I thought was totally inappropriate. They had no intention to play hockey and just hung around in front of their own goal but in the en, we got through that wall."

The Irish camp, though, hit back at this suggestion, with a statement saying "[We are] very unhappy with the label of "being physical". It was a bruising match with lots of tough 50/50 balls contested.

"The Irish squad was also unimpressed with the behaviour of the Dutch Captain who refused to play the ball for the last two minutes as the Irish team played a half court defence. With her side leading 5-1, she squatted on the 75 yard line without moving the ball. The supporters in the crowd booed while the players patiently waited.

"The Dutch Coach later apologised to the Irish Management for the arrogant behaviour of his Captain."

Irish Coach Una McCarthy commented "The Dutch are wonderful hockey players who play a fast and physical game but their lack of respect for other participating teams questions their values and ethics as ambassadors for junior European hockey"

The Dutch ran out winners courtesy of Frederique Derkx scoring two from three penalty strokes and adding two fizzing drag-flicks while another effort cracked the face-mask of number two runner Roisin Upton.

The other goal came as a result of a defensive mix-up but McCarthy was pleased with how her side performed against a side that had already notched 43 goals - including a 23-0 win over Lithuania - in three prior games.



Video from Albert Ferrer

Dutch deny Irish girls final place

Una McCarthy’s Ireland U-16 girls were unable to halt the Dutch juggernaut but did show up reasonably well in the physical exchanges against a side that had already battered 43 goals from three games to date in the tournament.

Captain Frederique Derkx netted four times – two corners and two strokes – in her side’s 5-1 win over the girls in green though Chloe Brown did pull one back from play to make it 3-1 early in the second half.

The Irish will now play Belgium in 3rd/4th place playoff, following their 3-0 loss to Spain in the other semi-final.

The U-16 boys, meanwhile, picked up their first win of the tournament with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic in the searing heat in Barcelona.

They got off to a dream start with a David Cole penalty corner strike after only four minutes but, despite controlling much of the game, were unable to push home the advantage.

Cole doubled the lead, again from a corner, early in the second period before Josh Moffett completed the win before the tie played out a slower tempo.

It moved Ireland onto four points in Group C and they will now face Poland needing a draw to avoid relegation to the B division while a win could see the side garner fifth place, depending on the scoreline between Russia and the Czechs.

Ireland U-16 girls (vs Netherlands): L Camlin, G Adams, C Brown, A Cooke, L Gray, A McGrath, L McKee, E Russell, R Upton, A-M Whelan
Subs: N Walsh, G Frazer, K Lloyd, O Macken, K Morris
July 17, bronze medal match: Ireland vs Belgium, 3pm

Boy’s U-16 European Nations Championships:
Group C: 1. Russia 4pts (+5) 2. Ireland 4pts (+3) 3. Poland 3pts (-1) 4. Czech Republic 0pts (-7)
July 17: Ireland vs Poland, 11am

Irish Hockey Photographers launch new online home

Irish hockey's top photographers have joined forces to launch a new one-stop shop - http://irishhockeyphotographers.zenfolio.com - for players, parents and fans to purchase top-class pictures.

The Irish Hockey Photographers collective was founded in 2008 in association with Ireland's dedicated hockey news websites, The Hook and Southern Fried.

The team of amateur snappers has grown to incorporate Adrian Boehm, Deryck Vincent, Ondine Roche, Eoin Tyrell, Stephen Findlater and Emer Keogh among other contributors, and covers every level of hockey in the country from schools up to senior international level.

The group primarily provides photos for The Hook and Southern Fried - the only hockey blogs in their respective homelands of Leinster and Munster - but has also supplied photos to the Irish Examiner, Irish Times and Evening Herald, as well as numerous other local publications.

The success of the group's initial venture via the photography social networking site Flickr - where their photographs have clocked up almost one million views in less than two years - has led to a significant extention of the service provided.

All photos are now available to purchase in a printed format, in a range of sizes direct from the site. T-shirts and mugs emblazoned with your favourite image are also available, and your chosen product is delivered straight to your home.

For futher information - or to enquire about joining the Irish Hockey Photographers team - visit the site at http://irishhockephotographers.zenfolio.com or contact irishhockeyphotographers@yahoo.co.uk

* Big thanks to Botanic's Gillian McAuliffe for her help in getting the site operational

** The site currently features all photos taken by Adrian Boehm since September 2009. The Irish Hockey Photographers will be uploading their pics from the last few seasons over the summer but if you have a specific set of photos you would like to purchase, email irishhockeyphotographers@yahoo.co.uk and they will be uploaded in due course.

Irish U-18 panels named for Home Nations

The Irish U-18 boys and girl’s panels have been named for this weekend’s Home Nations competition to be held in Garryduff, Cork this weekend.

The boys side gets its nucleus from the Wesley and Banbridge sides. The former – who claimed three schools titles this year – provide five of the 18 player panel while Bann have three panellists, though their contingent could have been more had Robin Smyrl not succumbed to injury.

Railway’s Mark Ingram steps up from U-16 netminding duties along with Rob Fitzgerald while Glenanne’s top scorer from play last season, Shane O’Donoghue, dons the vice-captain duties along with Luke Chadwick.

IJC winner Richard Sykes provides a corner threat while the trio of Three Rock players – David McCrea, Tom Samuel and Shane Madeley – bring first team experience, too.

The girls have five Leinster players included in their selection with Deirdre Duke taking the captain’s armband. She is one of three Alexandra College players involved along with powerful corner striker Nicola Gray and the flying Emily Beatty.

Mount Anville’s Aisling Naughton and Lisa McCarthy are the other pair to make Richie Malone’s line-up.

They get underway on Saturday, a day after England and Wales begin the female tournament (Friday, 8pm). The tournament runs all weekend until Monday.

Ireland U-18 boys: Rob Fitzgerald (YMCA/Wesley), Mark Ingram (Railway Union/Oatlands College), Matthew Bell (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), Nick Burns (Cork C of I/Midleton), Luke Chadwick (VC, YMCA/Wesley), Ben Dobson (Cork C of I/PBC), William Edgar (Annadale/Campbell), Shane Madeley (Wesley/TRR), Owen Magee (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), David McCrea (TRR/Wesley), Hugh McShane (Banbridge/Banbridge Academy), Shane O’Donoghue (VC, Glenanne/High School), Paul Ritchie (Annadale/Regent House), Tom Samuel (TRR/Wesley), Ian Sloan (Capt, Cookstown/Cookstown HS), Richard Sykes (Monkstown, St Andrew’s), Andrew Williamson (Annadale/Campbell College), Matthew Lecky (Raphoe/Royal and Prior)

U18 Boy’s Home Nations schedule (Garryduff):
July 17: England vs Wales, 12pm; Ireland vs Scotland, 2pm
July 18: Scotland vs Wales, 12pm; Ireland vs England, 2pm
July 19: Scotland vs England, 9am; Ireland vs Wales, 1pm

Ireland U-18 girls: Jeanna Holmes (GK, Randalstown/Carrick Grammar), Dora Gorman (Greenfields/Taylors Hill) Lisa McCarthy (Railway/Mount Anville), Aisling Naughton (Corinthian/Mount Anville), Deirdre Duke (Capt, Hermes/Alexandra College), Nicola Gray (Old Alex/Alexandra College), Amy Kate Trevor (Cork C of I/Scoil Mhuire) Nicole Laarhoven (Almeerse, NL), Naomi Carroll (Catholic Inst/St Patricks Comp), Rebecca Barry (VC, Catholic Inst/Laurel Hill), Kerri McDonald (Lurgan Ladies/Banbridge Academy), Katie Codyre (Greenfields/Colaiste Iognaid), Michelle Carey (Galway/Colaiste Iognaid), Vanessa Surgenor (Randalstown/Ballyclare HS), Joanne Orr (Armagh/Royal School Armagh), Leah Ewart (Armagh/Royal School Armagh), Emily Beatty (Old Alex/Alexandra College, Sammy Jo Greer (GK, Ballymoney)

U18 Girl’s Home Nations schedule (Garryduff):
July 16: England vs Wales, 8pm
July 17: England vs Scotland, 4pm; Ireland vs Wales, 6pm
July 18: Wales vs Scotland, 4pm; Ireland vs England, 6pm
July 19: Ireland vs Scotland, 11am

Girls set for Dutch semi; Boys miss last four place

Ireland’s U-16 girls advanced to the semi-finals of the European championships as they beat Russia 4-0 in Barcelona this evening to finish second in their group behind Spain. They will face the daunting prospect of the Netherlands in the final four; a side who scored a massive 43 goals in their three initial group games.

Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan both grabbed their second goals of the tournament while Railway's Kate Lloyd and Cork Harlequins' Antonia McGrath were also on the mark.

Upton netted the only goal of the first half from the penalty spot before the Irish pulled clear in the second period.

The boy’s, however, were unable to get the win they needed to advance. Holland’s 4-0 win over Austria meant a two-goal success against Russia would see Ireland through on goal difference.

But they fell 3-0 behind and only for a late rally did they avoid fourth place in the pool. Leinster trio Ross Canning, Jordan Sutton and Jeremy Duncan all scored in a whirlwind second half performance.

They did have their chances to nick the win in the final ten minutes but the point earned could prove crucial in the coming days.

The boys go into Group C – the relegation pool – with one point and now must face the Czech Republic on Friday and Poland on Saturday to decide their fate.


U-16 Girl’s European Championships – Group B
1. Spain 9pts (+13) 2. Ireland 6pts (+7) 3. Russia 3pts (-8) 4. Ukraine 0pts (-12)

Match schedule (Irish time):
Friday, July 16 (6.30pm): Ireland vs Netherlands
Saturday, July 17 (TBC): Final/3rd place playoff)

U-16 Boy’s European Championships – Group A
1. Netherlands 9pts (+17) 2. Austria 4pts (0) 3. Ireland 2pts (-2) 4. Russia 1pt (-15)

Boy's match schedule (Irish time):
Friday, July 16 (11am): Ireland vs Czech Republic
Saturday, July 17 (11am): Ireland vs Poland

Loreto seeking new coaches

Loreto hockey club are looking for coaches of all levels to join them for the 2010/11 season.

The club are the reigning women’s Irish Senior Cup holders and currently have six teams competing at all levels in the Leinster leagues as well as a large junior section.

If you are interested in taking on a side and want to find out more, contact loretohockeyclub@gmail.com.

U-16s both still in Euro semi-final hunt

* Words from Southern Fried's Alan Good

Ireland’s U-16 boys will be looking for a favour from the Netherlands tomorrow, but a place in the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships in Barcelona is still within their grasp.

A 1-1 draw with Austria today leaves Miles Warren’s side in third in their pool, with Adam Fallis’ neat turn giving him the space to push home an equaliser.

That goal was grabbed while Ireland were down to ten men in a closely-fought but tempestuous game, which saw Kirk Shimmins sin-binned twice, while Josh Moffett also saw yellow.

The Austrians also had a pair of yellow cards in the second half but had taken the lead in the 14th minute through Moritz Mayer. Faills' goal came two minutes after the break.

With whipping boys Russia — who were hammered 12-1 by the Dutch — up next in their final game tomorrow (11am Irish time), the Irish must win and overturn Austria’s goal difference advantage of six.

That task is not beyond them given the central Europeans must tackle the dominant Dutch, and Ireland will have the advantage of knowing what they have to do against the Russians.

Ireland’s U-16 girls also take on Russia with a semi-final spot at stake, but are in a healthier position having already got a win under their belts.

They lost 1-0 to pool favourites Spain yesterday, the winning goal coming in the sixth minute from captain Maria Tost, but a victory of any kind against the Russians is likely to be enough to advance, pending other results.

European U-16 Boys Championships standings (all played two games)
1. Netherlands 6pts (+13) 2. Austria 4pts (+4) 3. Ireland 1pt (-2) 4. Russia 0pts (-15)

U-16 Boy's schedule:
July 14 (11am, Irish time): Ireland Vs Russia

European U-16 Girls Championships standings (all played two games)

1. Spain 6pts (+9) 2. Ireland 3pts (+3) 3. Russia 3pts (-4) 4. Ukraine 0pts (-8)

U-16 girl's match schedule:
July 14 (7pm, Irish time): Ireland vs Russia

Whelan leads way for Irish U-16s

Ireland’s U16 girls gave themselves a fighting chance of a semi-final spot at the EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships in Barcelona, by hammering the Ukraine 4-0 in their opening game earlier tonight.

Wesley’s junior captain Anna-May Whelan gave Ireland the lead with further goals coming from Orla Macken, Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan.

Ireland look set to face a tougher examination today (5pm) when they meet hosts Spain, who eviscerated Russia 8-0, in the second of their three pool games.

Whelan and Railway’s Macken are among a half dozen Leinster players involved in Una McCarthy’s panel for the tournament.

Emma Russell – who gained experience last week with Ireland’s U-18 selection against Belgium – is part of the 18 player set-up along with Railway’s Nicola Walsh and Laura Gray, an emerging talent in St Andrew’s colours who produced some fine performances at the latter end of her school’s memorable treble winning season.

Overcoming champions the Netherlands proved beyond the Ireland U16 boys side however, as they went down 3-1.

Miles Warren’s side matched the Dutch in most aspects and were level at the break thanks to a 20th-minute strike from Pembroke Wanderers’ Kirk Shimmins.

But the Oranje’s counter-attacking skills proved the difference in a tight second half, albeit with a hint of controversy.

A shot from outside the circle was deliberately left by Irish netminder Stefan Gallagher, only for the goal to be incorrectly awarded.

Ireland are in action again today (11am Irish time) against Austria, who hammered Russia 4-0 to also grab an early initiative.

Ireland U-16 girls : Gayle Adams (Ballymoney/Cambridge House), Chloe Brown (North Down/Nendrum College), Lucy Camlin (Pegasus/Ballyclare HS), Elaine Carey (Galway/Jesuits), Amy Cooke (Lisnagarvey/Ballyclare HS), Gemma Fraser (Omagh/Omagh HS), Laura Gray (Hermes/St. Andrew's), Kate Lloyd (Railway/Loreto, Dalkey), Orla Macken (Railway/Rathdown), Antonia McGrath (Cork Harlequins/Ursuline Convent Thurles), Lucy McKee (Armagh/Banbridge Academy), Katie McQuillan (Dromore/Sullivan Upper), Katie Morris (Lisnagarvey/Strathearn), Katie Mullan (Ballymoney/Dalriada), Emma Russell (Hermes/Holy Child, Killiney), Roisin Upton (Catholic Institute/Cresent College Comprehensive), Nicola Walsh (Railway/Mt Anville), Anna-May Whelan (Old Alex/Wesley)
Coach: Una McCarthy
Manager: Jean McDonnell
Asst Coaches: Michelle Rainey / Kymberly Daly
Video / Support: Denise McCarthy
GK Coach: Stephen O'Keeffe

U-16 girl's match schedule:
July 13 (6pm) Ireland Vs Spain
July 14 (8pm): Ireland Vs Russia
July 16 (TBC): playoffs
July 17 (TBC): playoffs

Ireland U-16 Boys: Matthew Allister (Sullivan Upper/Annadale), Michael Anderson (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Peter Brown (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Ross Canning (St Columba's/Three Rock Rovers), David Cole (St Andrews/Monkstown), Ben Cosgrove (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), James Cox (Campbell College/Annadale), Jeremy Duncan (Kilkenny/Railway Union), Adam Fallis (RBAI/Lisnagarvey), Stefan Gallagher (Newpark Comp/Avoca), James Lorimer (RBAI/Mossley), Richard Lynch (Ashton/Cork C of I), Joshua Moffett (Banbridge Academy/Banbridge), Matthew Rollins (Cookstown High/Cookstown), Kirk Shimmins (Wesley College/Pembroke Wanderers), Scott Sullivan (Bandon Grammar/Bandon), Jordan Sutton (Wesley College/Corinthian), Gareth Wilkinson (Ashton/Cork C of I)
Coach: Miles Warren
Manager: Fraser Mills
Asst Coach: Ricky Lee
Video-support/GK coach: Stephen Doran

U-16 Boy's schedule:
July 13 (12pm) Ireland Vs Austria
July 14 (12pm): Ireland Vs Russia
July 16 (TBC): playoffs
July 17 (TBC): playoffs

Call for submissions for Leinster ladies' history

Stephanie Batt is currently assembling a history of Leinster ladies’ hockey clubs: senior, intermediate, junior and minor with a view to producing a book.

She is appealing to all club secretaries or individual club members who could furnish her with details, photos, newspapers or personal reminiscences of their club’s history for inclusion.

All documents and photographs would be safely kept and returned. She can be reached at steph.batt@gmail.com.

Le Touquet seek Dublin opposition

Le Touquet hockey club are hoping to travel to Dublin for a preseason tour and are currently looking for opposition for a weekend in early September – either the 3rd to 5th or 10th to 12th.

They will arrive in Dublin with their men’s first team and also a veteran’s side made of players aged over 40.

If your club are interested in welcoming the French club on these dates, email Eric Chateau – Le Touquet’s president - at ericchoteau@hotmail.com.