Scots remain stronger side

Irish coach Riet Kuper acknowledged that there was much work to be done, by both herself and her players, in the build-up to July's European Nations Cup Qualifier, following a disappointing performance in yesterday's 2-1 defeat by Scotland in Dundee.

"The result was a lot closer than the game," admitted Kuper after the match which the hosts should have won by a greater margin, having dominated Ireland for much of the 70 minutes.

Sue Gilmour gave Scotland the lead after just two minutes when she converted a penalty stroke awarded after a short-corner strike by Sue Fraser hit Arlene Thompson's foot on the goal line. Rhona Simpson and Sue McDonald had chances to extend the lead, but both were denied by Tara Browne in the Irish goal. Ireland had a brief spell on top towards the end of the first half but failed to take advantage of four short corners. Eight minutes into the second half Gilmour doubled Scotland's lead when she was first to the ball after a short corner broke down.

Kim Mills scored a consolation goal for the Irish two minutes from the end when Scottish substitute goalkeeper Tracey Robb allowed a long ball from Mary Logue, hit from the halfway line, to rebound off the post - an alert Mills pounced to notch her second goal in the weekend's three matches, the last of which was the only `official' international. But, despite their narrow margin of victory, Scotland were the superior side, comprehensively winning the midfield battle despite the efforts of the hard-working Logue and Rachel Kohler. Scotland fielded their full strength team yesterday, after resting five of their key players for Saturday's practice match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Simpson deprived the Irish of a victory with a goal five seconds from the end, after Thompson had given Ireland the lead after just six minutes.

Ireland: T Browne, C Devine, J Stewart, A Thompson, C O'Kelly, M Logue (capt), D Sixsmith, R Kohler, C McMahon, S Kelleher, K Mills. Subs: T Conway, K O'Brien, K Humphries.

Scotland: S Lawrie, J Jack, S Fraser, P Roberston (capt), D Renilson, S McDonald, C Corcoran, R Simpson, S Gilmour, H Walker, V Neil. Subs: T Robb, L Burton, A Denholm, A Grant.

The Irish under-21 team are celebrating a superb victory over their German counterparts in Belfast on Saturday, when Portadown's Jill Orbinson scored the game's only goal from a short corner just before half time.

The win, against one of the strongest nations in world hockey, is just the morale booster coach Adele Sloan would have wished for as her squad continues the build-up to hosting the European Championships in Belfast in August.