Matthew Nelson’s late equaliser against Italy was enough to secure Ireland’s future in the top tier of the Eurohockey U18 Youths Championship with a 2-2 draw.

Ireland failed to challenge a classy Spanish side in the Boys U18 Eurohockey Championship as they were whitewashed 5-0 yesterday at Garryduff. The hosts now face Italy today in a must-win clash.

SCOTLAND struck late in each half to compound Ireland’s woes at the World Cup qualifiers in Santiago, Chile as a lack of killer instinct either end put paid to any remote chance of reaching the second biggest competition in the game.