Irish Hockey

LYNSEY McVicker won't be there but the majority of her Ireland team mates will be in Rome for next year's World Cup Qualifying tournament.

The Irish girls' hard fought 3-1 victory over Scotland on the penultimate day of the European Nations' Cup tournament at Belfield yesterday earned Ireland a trip to the Eternal City.

The Ballymoney star and Ireland captain (pictured) is expected to officially confirm her retirement from international hockey after the Euro series ends in Dublin.

But there's some unfinished business to attend to today as Ireland were due to take on Ukraine, who beat France 2-1 yesterday, with a fifth place finish at stake.

"We can afford to realx and enjoy it but we obviously want to improve our ranking so we want to win the match," said McVicker last night.

"It was so important for us to reach the World Cup Qualifer because we need to be playing at as high a level as possible.

"We played well in the second half against Scotland and it helped when they were reduced to ten players for a spell."

But it was a familiar story in the first half as Ireland struggled to find their form and the omens did not look encouraging when a defensive lapse allowed the Scots to plunder the lead through Sam Judge who beat Angela Platt from close range.

Ireland's equaliser came out of the blue in the 26th minute, Ciara O'Brien's free reaching Jill Orbinson who in turn found McVicker who deflected the ball past the keeper to the relief of the big crowd.

Ireland survived an anxious moment within seconds of the push back when first Platt and then Bridget McKeever came to the rescue with a save and goal line clearance respectively after Valentine had moved menacingly into the circle.

But Ireland were a side inspired in the second half and after a couple of near misses, Orbinson whipped in a free in the 46th minute for Jenny Burke to test the keeper and the rebound fell invitingly for Eimear Cregan who volleyed the ball home.

Eleven minutes later Ireland were awarded their third penalty corner of the match and after a couple of well rehearsed dummies which bamboozled the Scottish defenders Burke blasted the ball into the corner of the net.

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