Double blow won’t deflate Ireland

IRELAND’S hopes of making next year’s finals of the European championships in Sweden may be fading but the country is fast becoming a force at this level.

Team manager Sean O'Reilly said yesterday that the disappointment at losing to Germany, ranked No 3 in the world, and powerful Croatia, was indicative of the ambition within the squad.

"Right now spirits are good," he said from Macedonia where they were preparing for tomorrow night's clash. "We arrived here with no problems whatsoever. The hotel is lovely on the edge of a lake everyone is relaxed and we are just heading off for a training session."