Ireland arrest losing streak with draw

HOCKEY:IRELAND'S HECTIC international schedule continued yesterday as the team flew from their training base in Alicante to British hockey's national base at Bisham Abbey. Having lost all three matches against the Dutch earlier in the week (1-4, 1-2 and 1-3), Ireland arrested the losing streak and drew 1-1 with the Olympic 2012 hosts.

Paul Gleghorne opened the scoring for Ireland on 12 minutes, when he finished off a counter attacking move and the first-half closed with Ireland holding their 1-0 advantage.

Britain came out in the second period strongly and were soon rewarded with a goal from open play. Ireland did have a few chances to snatch a win but two penalty corners prior to the final whistle were not converted leaving the teams level at 1-1.

Ireland play Britain again this morning before returning to their warm weather training camp in Valencia on February 3rd.

The side will take part in a further six matches against Spain and Belgium before their first Olympic qualifying match against Russia in Dublin on March 10th.

In schools hockey, Kilkenny College came back in the second-half to beat Newpark 6-4 in the Leinster Schoolboys’ Senior Trophy.

Newpark might have felt they had the match wrapped up when they went into the break 3-1 up.

Kilkenny hit back with a very strong second-half performance and, with the sides locked at 4-4, the game appeared to be headed into extra-time. But Kilkenny popped in two more goals with Sean Lamb grabbing a hat-trick for the winning team.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Tomorrow – Leinster Senior League, Division One: Railway Union v Monkstown, Park Avenue, 3pm; UCD v YMCA, Belfield, 1pm; Three Rock Rovers v Corinthians, Grange Road, 2.30 (front pitch); Glenanne v Clontarf, Glenanne Park, 2.30; Pembroke Wanderers v Fingal, Serpentine Avenue, 2pm. Division two – Weston v Avoca , Griffeen Valley Park, 3pm; Rathgar v Mullingar; High School, 1pm; Portrane v Dublin University, ALSAA, 1pm.