Mixed bag for Irish women’s sides

Ireland’s senior women put in a much-improved performance yesterday but still went down 4-2 to world number three Germany to ensure they left Nurnburg empty-handed after a two-game series. Gene Muller’s side had lacked concentration and accuracy in a 3-0 defeat on Saturday, but were far feistier the second time around, despite conceding a third-minute goal to Natascha Keller. They were level two minutes later when skipper Eimear Cregan slammed home from a tight angle after being set up by birthday girl Emma Smyth, to leave the sides level at the break. Despite holding firm after losing Bridget Cleland to the sin-bin, Ireland went 2-1 down thanks to a Janine Beerman strike, but Nikki Symmons converted a penalty stroke to level it up once more.

However, Germany caught Ireland on the break twice in the closing stages as both sides sought a winner, with Keller and Beerman giving the scoreline a flattering look for the hosts. Meanwhile, Ireland’s U18 girls produced an incredible reversal to turn a 2-0 defeat on Friday into a 6-0 win over Scotland to share the two-match series with a win apiece. In the first game, Scotland, who will be aiming for promotion to division one of European competition in July, scored twice in a five minute spell just after half-time to take the win. Saturday’s second game, however, showed a massive turnaround in form to thump the Scots. Hermes’ starlets Chloe Watkins (two), Gillian Pinder and Deirdre Duke accounted for four of the goals while Pembroke’s Orla Fox and Greenfields’ midfielder Dora Gorman completed the six-goal rout.