Frustration for fighting Irish

Ireland pushed world number five England hard, but ultimately fell in a shoot-out after drawing yesterday’s men’s Investec Cup final 2-2 in London.

Conor Harte and Jonathan Bell led a spirited defensive performance, as Ireland learned lessons from a 4-1 defeat to the hosts in the pool stages.

They also twice came from behind to level, first through a Eugene Magee wonder strike before Alan Sothern teed up Mitch Darling to equalise two minutes from time.

But the shoot-out belonged to England, their greater composure seeing them beat David Harte four times while Sothern tucked away two strokes after he and Michael Robson were fouled taking their one-on-one opportunities.

Cork Harlequins defender Cliodhna Sargent marked her 150th cap with a goal as Ireland belatedly found their shooting sticks in a 5-0 win over Canada at the Four Nations in Dublin yesterday, having been hammered 9-2 by world number four New Zealand the day before.