Irish boys surge to Euro success

Ireland will be back at European youth hockey’s top table in 2015 after claiming gold at the EuroHockey Youth (U18) Nations Championships II in Gasawa, Poland yesterday. Graham Shaw’s side were comprehensive victors with five wins from five in the round-robin tournament, scoring 32 goals and conceding just three. Happily for those in this part of the world, Munster hockey’s three representatives on the side – Gary Wilkinson, Alex Burns and Simon Wolfe, all of Cork C of I – made a big impression on the tournament.   Wilkinson was among the goals in three of the five games and was named player of the match against Russia; Burns and Wolfe both got on on the scoresheet too with Wolfe earning a man of the match gong against Wales Day one saw a topsy-turvy game against Italy won 8-2; Wilkinson created the first for Ben Campbell then reversed in himself, and while Ireland were always in front, a missed penalty stroke by both teams and a couple of sloppy Italian goals kept things relatively interesting. The wins over Wales (4-0) and Switzerland (10-1) were somewhat more straightforward with the goals spread throughout the team, but Ireland’s toughest challenges – nominally at least – awaited at the weekend. They took on hosts Poland on Saturday to guarantee promotion to the top tier, having been relegated in 2011. Ireland won 4-0, Munster boys Burns and Wolfe weighing in with a goal each while Michael Robson and Harry Morris netted the others. That objective achieved, the focus turned to getting the gold medal against Russia yesterday. The result was never in doubt with Cork C of I hitman Wilkinson and Three Rock Rovers corner specialist Luke Madeley netting two each, while Morris continued his fine scoring form and Jonny McKee unleashed a quality reverse-stick strike in a 6-0 success.

EuroHockey Youth Nations Championships II, Gasawa, Poland Irish results: Ireland 8 (B Campbell 3, L Madeley 3, G Wilkinson, M Loughrey) Italy 2 Ireland 4 (H Morris 2, G Wilkinson, L Cole) Wales 0 Ireland 10 (B Cosgrove 2, K Mullins 2, J Lorimer 2, J McKee, M Robson, L Madeley, H Morris) Switzerland 1 Poland 0 Ireland 4 (A Burns, S Wolfe, M Robson, H Morris) Ireland 6 (G Wilkinson 2, L Madeley 2, H Morris, J McKee) Russia 0 Final standings: 1 Ireland 15pts (+29), 2 Russia 12 (+13), 3 Poland 9 (+3), 4 Wales 6 (-7), 5 Italy 1 (-17), 6 Switzerland 1 (-21).