HOCKEY: Ireland followed up Monday's 13-0 trouncing of Finland in the European Nations Cup Qualifier with another comfortable victory at Belfield yesterday, this time beating Poland 4-0 to remain top of pool B. Even a draw today against France in their final pool game would be sufficient for Ireland to win the pool and set up a semi-final meeting with either Italy or Belarus on Saturday.

Jill Orbinson marked her 50th senior apearance by giving the hosts the lead after just two minutes, converting a smart pass from Jenny Burke. Claire McMahon doubled the advantage just three minutes later, riding a tackle to fire home from the right of the circle and, by then, it seemed that Poland were heading for a drubbing of Finnish proportions.

Orbinson shot just wide from Ireland's first short corner of the game before Linda O'Neill set up Lynsey McVicker, after 20 minutes, at the edge of the circle for the Ballymoney player to strike low in to the left corner of the goal. It was 4-0 five minutes later when O'Neill's shot on goal, following a superb run by McMahon, was stopped by a defender's foot on the line. Daphne Sixsmith converted the resulting stroke with ease, firing high to the goalkeeper's right.

That, surprisingly, proved to be the last of Ireland's scoring, with the second half, played under 'unseasonal' sunshine, petering out in a disappointing fashion.

France are level on points with Ireland, after beating Finland 8-0 yesterday, but an inferior goal difference means they must win today's pool decider if they are to avoid the likelihood of playing Scotland in the semi-finals. Italy, who beat Greece 10-0 yesterday, need just a draw with Belarus to go through to that probable semi-final against Ireland.

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, E Cregan, C O'Brien, L O'Neill, C Murray.