HOCKEY: Victories over France and Scotland at the weekend, to add to Friday's 1-0 defeat of Wales, gave Ireland a flawless record at the Celtic Cup in Edinburgh, Riet Kuper's team winning the tournament by five clear points from Scotland.
On Saturday, in a dress rehearsal for Ireland's opening game of the European Championships (on August 14th), France were beaten 3-1, with Nikki Symmons scoring after just 11 minutes, firing home a short corner.
Jill Orbinson restored Ireland's lead seven minutes into the second half, after Emilie Bellet had equalised for France, deflecting home another Symmons corner strike. Cathy McKean made the game safe in the 45th minute, finishing off a fine move.
A draw against the hosts would have sufficed to clinch the tournament yesterday but a 1-0 win was secured as early as the third minute when Waterford's Kristin Farrell scored.
A successful weekend, then, for the Irish team, the only setback the ankle-ligament injury sustained by Caitriona Carey in the game against Wales - the Hermes midfielder expects to be on crutches for three weeks, but is hopeful of being fit in time for the European Championships.
Jenny McDonough, who also picked up an ankle injury in Edinburgh, is confident of being fit in time for Friday's and Saturday's games against Olympic champions Germany at Belfield.
CELTIC CUP (at Edinburgh) - Saturday: Ireland 3 (N Symmons, J Orbinson, C McKean), France 1 (E Bellet); Scotland 4, Wales 1. Sunday: Ireland 1 (K Farrell), Scotland 0; Wales 2, France 1.
