France hit shell-shocked Irish for six

Ireland slumped to their heaviest defeat since Paul Revington took over in Paris earlier tonight, as France romped to a 6-1 win in the men in green’s first warm-up for November’s World Cup qualifiers. The result was something of a shock to an Irish side, who featured 13 of the 18 players that won this season’s European B championships, and was also their worst-ever defeat to the French. They had also previously thumped their hosts 8-2 on home soil earlier this year, while their second string defeated Les Blues 3-1 at the Celtic Cup in June.

Three French goals between the 19th and 23rd minute undid a decent Irish start. Eugene Magee got Ireland’s only goal of the game – his 21st in the Irish jersey – from a 25th minute drag-flick. Iain Walker pulled off a series of saves but France offered little mercy as Mathieu Durchon fired home either side of half-time and Jean-Baptiste Pauchet got his second in the 43rd minute to round off the scoring. It proved a chastening experience for Belgian-based Phelie Maguire and Mikey Watt who made returns to the panel after lengthy absences – the former due to his time in Palestine, the latter returning from injury. IRELAND: Iain Walker, Tim Lewis Ronan Gormley (capt), Joe Brennan, Johnny Jackson, Geoff McCabe, Graham Shaw, David Hobbs, Eugene Magee, Mikey Watt, Alan Sothern Subs: Mitch Darling, Andy McConnell, Phelie Maguire, Conor Harte, Peter Caruth Ireland men’s squad to play Scotland (Banbridge, October 2&3): D Harte (Pembroke); I Walker (YMCA); R Gormley (Pembroke, capt); T Lewis (Pembroke); J Brennan (Glenanne); J Jackson (Loughborough); C Harte (Pembroke); J Jermyn (Cork C of I); D Hobbs (Cork C of I); S Butler (Glenanne); G Shaw (Glenanne); G McCabe (Dragons); E Magee (Dragons); M Watt (Dragons); T Cockram (Lisnagarvey); A Sothern (Pembroke); M Darling (Leuven); P Maguire (Leuven). Ireland men vs Scotland (October 4): D Harte (Pembroke); M Ruddle (Cork C of I); J Jackson (Loughborough); P Gleghorne (Loughborough); K Burns (Cork C of I); M Maguire (Three Rock Rovers); C Harte (Pembroke) J Jermyn (Cork C of I); D Hobbs (Cork C of I); D Ames (Cookstown); T Cockram (Lisnagarvey); A McConnell (Pembroke); P Caruth (Annadale); C Cargo (Reading); P Blakeney (Three Rock Rovers); A Giles (Pembroke); G Watkins (Monkstown); B McCandless (Banbridge).