Irish women fail to make use of set-pieces

HOCKEY/European Under-21 Championships: Unless they can beat Holland, Ireland's women must hope for a win in their cross-over match to earn a place in next year's under-21 World Cup in Chile after losing 3-1 to Scotland at Belfield last night.

Ireland failed to make the most of their five set-pieces in the second half, and there was just one lapse in the second period when Scotland hit their third against the run of play.

The home side began brightly and had Scotland chasing after three minutes, when Karen Hales touched in a Kirsty McCullen drive from the right after the first corner stop had broken down.

But the lead was short-lived, with Alison Bell responding following an immediate attack by Scotland.

Bell was first to a loose ball after a thrust down the left and equalised less than a minute after Ireland's opener.

It was a disappointing concession, and if Ireland had held the lead a little longer the Scots may well have become frustrated.

Ominously, Scotland added a second to take them into the break 2-1 ahead when Holly Cram reacted to a ball that had bounced over an Irish stick following a free on the right.

Scotland then were in control as Ireland fell into a half-court game, their opponents content to knock the ball side to side, waiting for an opening. But a more feisty approach had the home team pressing more in the final half hour.

Unfortunately Ireland's set-pieces misfired, although Hales netted another deflection but only after the initial corner strike was judged to have been illegally high.

Finally, Cram again rolled a loose ball under a tangle of bodies on 57 minutes closing the contest and leaving Ireland to meet the formidable Dutch in their final pool match.

Today the men's side also face the Dutch in their final pool game in Nivelles, Belgium.

Having beaten Scotland 1-0 in their opening game and lost to England 6-4 in the final quarter of their second pool match, when they were down to 10 men, it will take all of Ireland's resourcefulness to see off Holland today at 2.45 p.m.

What augurs well for the young side is that they led England with 11 players on the pitch, and with a similarly heightened performance the favourites may just be knocked out of shape.

By any measure it remains a long shot as Ireland rarely beat Holland at this level.

A defeat would mean, as was expected all along, that Ireland's place in next year's World Cup in Holland will come down to their cross-over match.

A win would guarantee the team at least sixth place in the tournament, enough to qualify.

WOMEN'S EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP (at Belfield): Ireland 1 (K Hales), Scotland 3 (H Cram 2, A Bell).