Ireland suffer Euro relegation

It will be at least four years before Ireland grace the top tier of European U18 girls hockey after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Russia saw them relegated yesterday.

On the final day of the EuroHockey Youth Championships, the ‘Little Green Army’ needed victory against the Russians to claim sixth place of the eight teams competing in Dublin and avoid the trapdoor.

Yulia Kazakova had Russia in front but two quickfire Irish strikes — an own goal forced by Elaine Carey, before Zara Thom teed up an easy finish for Robyn Chambers — turned the game on its head.