Irish U18s among Euro elite

IRELAND’S U18 girls produced a superb backs-to-the-wall effort to keep Belgium at bay and secure a top four ranking at the Volvo EuroHockey U18 Championships in Utrecht yesterday.

Katie Mullan blasted Ireland in front in the opening minute, before goalkeeper Jenna Holmes and produced save after save to keep the Belgians at bay.

Richie Malone’s charges will now take on Germany today (1.05pm Irish time) in the semi-finals. Tournament favourites the Netherlands meet England in the other last four tie.

The 2011 vintage now have two chances to produce Ireland’s best-ever finish at this tournament; the girls in green have finished fourth twice, in 2005 and 2007.

The scenario facing the Irish U18 boys is somewhat different, following a chastening 8-0 loss to Germany in their final pool clash.

Ireland now head into a four-team “relegation pool” alongside England, France and Russia as they bid to retain ‘A’ division status.

Ireland have an early advantage here, as the three points from their 4-1 win over the Russians in the pool stages carries into this phase, with England and France on one each having drawn 1-1 in the group phase.

The Irish will again look to skipper Ian Sloan, a senior international and scorer of a 17-minute hat-trick against Russia, for inspiration as they meet France today (11.05am Irish time) and England tomorrow (10am), needing to finish among the top two to avoid relegation.