WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Ireland inched ever closer to a place in next year's European Nations Cup finals in Barcelona when they won through to the semi-finals of the Qualifier at Belfield last evening by beating France 3-0 to top Pool B.
Riet Kuper's team play Italy tomorrow morning while France play Pool A winners Scotland in the second semi-final, with the top three in the tournament guaranteed a place in the finals.
Last September, when they hosted the World Cup Qualifier, France beat Ireland for the first time since 1991 but that defeat was avenged in some style yesterday.
By the time Claire McMahon opened the scoring in the 14th minute Ireland had already come close to taking the lead on three occasions through Arlene Boyles, Rachael Kohler and McMahon. The Pegasus winger, in sparkling form, converted that pressure into a goal when she forced home the rebound from Laura Lee's strike which hit the left post.
Playing impressively and putting together some superb speedy passing moves Ireland deservedly extended their lead within four minutes, this time through a fine Jenny Burke solo effort. Burke dribbled her way past two defenders on the backline before having her shot saved, but she slotted the rebound past Maelle Loyot in the French goal.
Burke turned creator six minutes into the second half when her delicate lay-off was collected by the advancing Lynsey McVicker who burst in to the circle and fired past Loyot to make it 3-0. France's efforts at getting back in to the game were thwarted by a solid Irish defence, with Tara Browne twice denying Caroline Delloye from short corners.
Italy secured the runners-up spot in Pool A on goal difference over Belarus, with whom they drew 1-1 yesterday, and play Ireland tomorrow for the first time since May 1998 when they lost 5-1 at Belfield in a four-nations tournament.
Ireland: T Browne, L Caulfield, D Sixsmith, A Boyles, P Magill, L Lee, J Orbinson, R Kohler (capt), C McMahon, J Burke, L McVicker. Subs: A Platt, S Parkhill, C O'Brien, L O'Neill, C Murray.
Pool A: Belarus 1, Italy 1; Scotland 10, Greece 0; final placings: 1, Scotland 9 pts (17-2); 2, Italy 4 pts (12-2); 3, Belarus 4 pts (8-7); 4, Greece 0 (1-26); POOL B: Ireland 3 (C McMahon, J Burke, L McVicker), France 0; Poland 8, Finland 0; final placings: 1, Ireland 9 pts (20-0);2, France 6 pts (11-3); 3, Poland 3 pts (8-7); 4, Finland 0 (0-29).
Tomorrow - Semi-finals: Ireland v Italy, Belfield, 9.0; Scotland v France, Grange Road, 9.0. Fifth-eight place play-offs: Belarus v Finland, Belfield, 2.0; Poland v Greece, Grange Road, 2.0.
