Ireland suffer shoot-out agony

IRELAND’S hopes of becoming the first winners of the Champions Challenge II on home soil were left in tatters last night as Poland claimed a final victory on penalty strokes at Belfield last night.

The Irish twice held two-goal leads, but Marcin Strykowski’s deflection with 13 seconds to go pulled the sides level at 3-3.

When extra-time couldn’t break the stalemate, misses from the flick spot by Glenanne duo Joe Brennan and Stephen Butler ultimately cost Ireland, as they lost the shootout 5-4.