Irish girls learn harsh lesson as Scots earn draw

Ireland U16 girls coach Una McCarthy admitted her side learned a harsh lesson as Scotland recovered from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the U16 Four Nations Tournament in Largs yesterday. Rebecca Barry’s tidy reverse gave the Irish a sixth-minute lead, before her Munster colleague Amy Kate Trevor doubled the advantage on 30 minutes via a penalty corner.

But a controversial penalty stroke gave the Scots a 50th-minute lifeline, before they nabbed an equaliser with three minutes to go. Ireland could have expected more out of a game in which they forced seven corners and condeded, none, and McCarthy admitted she was disappointed with the outcome. “A young team played good hockey and were in control for long periods of the game, but this will be a learning experience for them,” she said. There was better news for the U16 boys, who confidently disposed of their Scottish hosts 3-0. Strikes from Shane Madeley and Darren Sweetnam had them two up inside 20 minutes, before a Madeley solo strike 10 minutes from time sealed the deal after Mark Ingram’s shot-stopping had kept Ireland’s goal intact.