Burke goals boost for Ireland

HOCKEY: After going down 1-0 to Spain on Saturday, two goals from Jenny Burke in yesterday's international in Madrid helped Ireland to a rare and morale-boosting victory (3-1) over their hosts, who they meet again in their World Cup pool in Australia next month.

"Maybe the others won't think Ireland are an automatic three points for them now," said coach Riet Kuper after the game, in which Pegasus winger Claire McMahon won her 100th cap.

McMahon's club-mate Arlene Boyles gave Ireland the lead, from a short corner, five minutes before the break after her team had enjoyed the bulk of the possession for the previous half hour.

Spain, though, levelled the game five minutes in to the second half when Nuria Camon scored from a short corner rebound, and Ireland needed fine goalkeeping from Tara Browne and alert defending by Boyles and Katharyn Maybin (who replaced the out-of-form Pamela Magill at left-back over the weekend) to deny Spain a further score.

Ireland, for whom Jill Orbinson impressed at centre midfield, restored their lead 10 minutes from time when Burke converted a McMahon pass at the end of a fine move, and the Hermes forward made it 3-1 from a short corner awarded on the final whistle.

"We should have won on Saturday, or at least drawn, but the difference today was that we took our chances," said Kuper of the game in which Carol Metchette made her debut as an international umpire. "Today's game was very encouraging, though, the players will take a lot of confidence from it - our fitness is fantastic. It was rough out there but we kept our discipline and took the knocks - Spain won't get away with some of that play at the World Cup. We're ready to battle, though."

The squad flies from Madrid to the United States today for the International Atlantic Cup, a four-nations' tournament at Virginia Beach where Ireland will play the hosts, Scotland and Mexico.

On the club front, Pembroke Wanderers produced further evidence of their increasing strength at Belfield on Saturday when they drew 1-1 with champions Hermes, coached for the first time by Jorn Eisenhuth, who has worked with the German boys' youth team. Eisenhuth will coach the Leinster champions until Christmas, at which point Peter Darley will return from Irish duty.

Pembroke took the lead a minute before half-time when Kathryn Henderson coolly turned and slotted home a cross from the left, but Roly Burke levelled for Hermes immediately after the break. The champions, though, had to weather a stormy period mid-way through the half when Pembroke forced four short corners in quick succession, but the draw was the fair result, one that underlined Pembroke's title credentials this season.

A hat-trick from Nikki Symmons and two goals from Rachel Brophy gave Loreto a 5-1 win over Trinity, but UCD opened their season with a victory, beating Genesis 2-1 with Barbara Fitzgerald scoring both. A Trish Conway double and another goal from newcomer Laura Murphy gave Old Alexandra a 3-0 win over Railway Union, while scores from Judy Muldowney and Anna Ancher gave Corinthian the points against Glenanne.

IRELAND (v Spain, yesterday): T Browne, C O'Brien, A Boyles, D Sixsmith, K Maybin, L Lee, J Orbinson, R Kohler (capt), C McMahon, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: K Humphreys, C Murray, E Cregan, L O'Neill.

INTERNATIONALS (at Madrid) - Saturday: Spain 1 (N Camon), Ireland 0. Yesterday: Spain 1 (N Camon), Ireland 3 (A Boyles, J Burke 2).

LEINSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Trinity 1 (K Wallis), Loreto 5 (N Symmons 3 R Brophy 2); Railway Union 0, Old Alexandra 3 (T Conway 2, L Murphy); UCD 2 (B Fitzgerald 2), Genesis 1 (S Kane); Glenanne 0, Corinthian 2 (A Ancher, J Muldowney); Hermes 1 (R Burke), Pembroke Wanderers 1 (K Henderson). Division Two: Aer Lingus 0, Genesis II 2; Clontarf 1 (R Ormrod), Loreto II 0; Corinthian II 0, Hermes II 2 (S Moran, B Delaney); Three Rock 5 (E J Cassidy pen, Bt Charmont 2, S A O'Connor, C King), Our Lady's 1 (O Hartley); Pembroke Wanderers II 0, Old Alexandra II 2 (E O'Reilly, S O'Mahony).

MUNSTER LEAGUE - Division One: Bandon 2 (K Barry, J O'Higgins), Church of Ireland 2 (G Kilcullen, A Mills); Harlequins 3 (K O'Brien pen, J Chapple, M Ahern), Waterford 0; Univ of Limerick 2 (L Keane 2), UCC 1 (C Kennefick).

ULSTER LEAGUE - Section One: Ards 1 (R Hamill), Randalstown 1 (S Wilkinson); Pegasus 2 (H Mullan 2), Ballymena 0; Ballymoney 1 (C Dickson), Coleraine 0; Belfast Harlequins 2 (C Parkhill, L Hedley), Knock 1 (J Doak).