The Irish under-21s beat Wales 4-0 and 3-1 in Cardiff over the weekend to complete their preparations for next month's Junior World Cup in Tasmania.
After a scoreless first half on Saturday, Ireland drove home their superiority with goals from Michael Harte, Jonathan Quigley, David Eakins (penalty) and David Hobbs.
Yesterday, Wales snatched an early lead before Alan Giles and Harte made it 2-1 by half-time and Simon Irvine completed the scoring.
On the home front, Gordon Elliott and Colin Stewart were irrepressible for Pembroke Wanderers and Corinthians, respectively, as opening Leinster league wins (3-0 and 4-2) were registered against YMCA and Three Rock Rovers.
YMCA defended earnestly in the first half at Serpentine Avenue but Elliott pierced the cover straight from the second-half tip-off and then scored again with a reverse-stick stinger, as well as being involved in a final offensive finished off by Paddy Good.
At Grange Road, counter attacks by Stewart yielded the Australian a hat-trick, supplemented by Robbie Byrnes, as Corinthians led by 2-0 and 4-1, yet Rovers contributed much to a lively game. With Garry Ringwood and Phelie Maguire to the fore, they replied through Alan Bothwell (penalty) and David Hanna as well as forcing 10 short corners.
Monkstown, with Greg Dunne back in defence and Michael Trounce prominent in midfield, held Glenanne to a 1-1 draw at Rathdown. Philip Balbirnie, making his first XI debut, gained a short corner for David Jenkins to put the home side ahead but Glenanne earned a late point through Stephen Butler.
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