MEN's HOCKEY: Ireland played three matches, scored 28 goals and conceded none. Remember that.
MIt doesn't happen often. The home side's processional route to the top of their Pool B European Qualifier ended last night against Finland after a week that has indicated that Ireland are clearly the top team on view at Belfield but have yet to show whether they have qualified for next year's finals in Barcelona.
Their critical cross-over match against Wales tomorrow morning, however, now takes on greater proportions and is likely to be more gritty and closer than any of the three pool games. The two teams who reach the final directly qualify for Spain, with the third placed side going into what would be an unwanted play-off at another venue.
Gordon Elliott added two more goals to his previous five to remain top scorer in the competition while Chris Jackson's hat-trick over seven dominating minutes in the first half broke the back of what contest there was.
That wasn't much. Finland, willing and earnest, rarely stepped into the Irish half, while goalkeeper Wesley Bateman didn't have to twitch a fibre throughout the 70- minute spectacle.
It began with two strikes from play by Elliott followed by Jackson's three which brought the tally to 5-0 after 25 minutes.
Justin Sherriff, finally off the mark with his first goal of the competition less than a minute after the break, sparked a second-half rout, with Julian Stevenson cracking two from play, Jason Black landing a penalty, Mark Black touching in from a short corner and John Jermyn bringing it to 11.
Coach John Clarke used all his outfield players with Karl Burns also making his first start. It was another encouraging performance, with outstanding scoring, but the most important match comes tomorrow.
Ireland: W Bateman; K Burns, D Smyth, P Brown, J Black; M Raphael, C Jackson, S Butler; Elliott, J Stevenson, J Sherriff. Rolling subs: J Jermyn, G Shaw, D Hobbs, M Black.
Pool A: Austria 6 (M Mayer 4, F Ringler 2), Greece 1 (A Terzis); Wales 4 (J Westerman 3, Z Jones ), Gibraltar 0; final placings: 1, Austria 9 pts (12-5); 2, Wales 6 pts (14-1); 3, Gibraltar 3 pts (12-10); 4, Greece 0 (2-24); Pool B: Ireland 11 (C Jackson 3, G Elliott 2, J Stevenson 2, J Sherriff J Black, M Black, J Jermyn), Finland 0; Italy 6 (G Cirilli 3, M Lanzano 2, A Debortoli) Malta 0; final placings: 1, Ireland 9 pts (28-0); 2,Italy 6 pts (14-4); 3, Finland 3 pts (3-19); 4, Malta 0 (0-22).
Tomorrow: First to fourth place play-offs (first series) - Ireland v Wales (11.30); Austria v Italy; fifth to eighth places: Gibraltar v Malta; Greece v Finland.
