After overpowering Scotland (5-2) and Wales (7-0), Ireland needed to exert themselves fully to beat France 3-2 in the Under-21 tournament in Tours yesterday to retain the Celtic Cup with considerable elan.
In a game in which both sides created ample clear-cut scoring opportunities, Ireland were indebted to some fine goalkeeping by Charlie Henderson, while a particularly resourceful performance by Carl Burns was also a key factor.
After early French pressure, Ireland took the lead in the 16th minute when Chris Harte and Cliff Bailey forced goalkeeper Julien Thamin to yield a penalty stroke which Stephen Butler confidently converted.
The French captain Sebastien Jean-Jean equalised before the interval; but four minutes into the second half Justin Sherriff broke away to score from the edge of the circle. Ireland - with Colm Brady settling in eagerly at left midfield - were now dominant and were rewarded with a third goal when Mark Black and Bailey combined for Harte to make the finishing touch.
Although the French took advantage of a flurry of hail for Mattieu Durchon to pierce the cover and close the gap to 3-2, Butler and his cohorts at the back ensured that victory was secure.
Butler had stood out like a chateau in the demolition of Wales on Saturday; notably as a marksman when he scored from four successive short-corner drag flicks in the second half (including a hat-trick in the 44th, 47th, and 49th minutes). Sherriff and Burns had made it 2-0 by the interval and Stephen Symington put away the seventh goal.
Continuing their build-up to the European Junior Championship in Madrid in July, Ireland will meet England in three internationals in Dublin on April 14th, 15th and 16th and Germany in another Test series in Hanover at Easter.
IRELAND (v Wales) - M Ruddle; A Chambers, S Butler (capt), P Smith; C Burns; J Bloomfield, M Harte, C Brady; S Reid, J Sherriff, C Bailey. Subs: A Kershaw, M Black, S Symmington, D Eakins.
IRELAND (v France) - C Henderson; A Chambers, S Butler (capt), R Beere; C Burns; S Symmington, M Harte, M Black; D Eakins, J Sherriff, C Bailey. Sub: C Brady.
