Euros: Sherriff's in charge of goal trail
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| Irish Hockey |
September 11, 2003 
The Belfast Telegraph
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By Graham Hamilton
IRELAND striker Justin Sherriff is still leading the scoring charts in the European Nations Cup going into the final few days of the competition.
He struck twice more in yesterday afternoon's 5-2 success over Switzerland to take his tally to nine goals in six games, overtaking Bram Lomans of Netherlands, with Germany's Bjorn Michel also in the frame.
The Irish win ensures John Clarke´s team have bettered their Euro ranking by at least one and possibly two if they beat Italy in their final tomorrow morning.
The disappointment is that they are not in the fifth to eighth play-offs, for there's little doubt they should have been there.
They have now scored 17 goals in six games - previously unheard of by Irish teams at this level, and they have proved one of the most entertaining teams in the competition.
"We took out our frustrations on the Swiss," admitted coach Clarke, "but we still look decidedly nervous at times.
"We were two up and when David Smyth was injured we began looking shaky and they levelled matters.
"But we recovered and five more goals will add to our confidence."
Smyth took a bad knock on the knee and was substituted midway through the first half. He was kept on the bench as a precaution and hopefully an icepack will do the trick and he will be fit for the final game.
Patrick Brown, another stalwart at the heart of the defence, moved into the middle with Karl Burns filling the gap on the right.
But it was Cookstown's Andrew Barbour who excited the big Irish contingent among the crowd. He tortured the Swiss defence and won the penalty corner from which Sherriff scored with a neat switch involving Stephen Butler after just seven minutes.
Andy twice came close to adding to his first international goal earlier in the week.
Mark Irwin made it two in 14 minutes when he robbed the goalkeeper and scored from close range but with Smyth off the Swiss took advantage and levelled through Oliver Bilgerig and a Thierry Grandchamp penalty corner.
The Irish were creating many chances and they finally restored their lead through Irwin who popped up at the front post to deflect in Sherriff´s cross.
Chris Jackson got the fourth with a thunderous shot from the edge of the circle and Sherriff struck once again on the hour to secure a place against the Italians - who beat Russia 2-1 in their final games.
Friday: 9th/10th play-off - Ireland v Italy.
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