Women's Hockey Round-up: While the quality of opposition lined up for Ireland's build-up to next month's Olympic Qualifier in New Zealand is as good as it gets, 5-0 and 4-0 defeats by the top two teams in the world, Holland and Argentina, in Cordoba in the last four days, following five defeats by the US last month, mean the gap between this young Irish team and the world's elite has rarely been so evident: seven played, seven lost, 23 goals conceded and just two scored.
Some encouragement may be taken from the fact it took world champions Argentina 33 minutes on Saturday to pierce the Irish defence, in which Fiona Connery shone, with Vanina Oneto scoring from a short corner.
Luciana Aymar, player of the tournament at the 2002 World Cup, stamped her class on the game three minutes after the break, dispossessing Jill Orbinson in midfield before setting off on a brilliant solo run that ended in a goal. Aymar added her second in the 55th minute, from a corner. Cecilia Rognoni completed the scoring a minute later.
Ireland play Korea today before meeting Argentina again, Argentina's under-21 team and local side Cordoba.
Back home, Leinster reclaimed the under-21 interprovincial title, beating the defending champions, Ulster, on goal difference by trouncing Connacht 8-0 in the final game of the tournament.
Carol McGowan scored a hat-trick, with Loreto's Nikki Keegan adding two more. Leinster and Ulster won their games against South East (who finished third in the tournament), Munster and Connacht, and drew 2-2 with each other in Saturday's meeting.
IRELAND (v Argentina): A Platt; N Symmons, C O'Brien, K Maybin, F Connery, L Caulfield, J Orbinson, J Burke, E Cregan, J McDonough, L McVicker (capt). Subs used: K Farrell, N McCaughern, B McKeever, S Beaney. Subs not used: N King, D Casey, E Bromell.
