HOCKEY: Ireland finished off a highly successful weekend in Manchester with a timely 3-1 win over England yesterday, the first time an Irish men's hockey team have beaten England since 1949.
Ireland, who beat world-ranked Belgium last weekend and who face into a European Cup qualifying event in Dublin next month, went a goal down when a David Mathews drag flick found the Irish net after just six minutes.
But Ireland confidently fought back, with Lisnagarvey's Julian Stevenson equalising just before half-time and Mark Raphael giving Ireland the lead on 55 minutes.
England, who were reduced to 10 men in the dying stages, were then hit by Ireland's third goal when player of the tournament, Glenanne midfielder Stephen Butler, landed a corner on 63 minutes for the historic win.
The win earned Ireland the tournament following wins over the English B side on Friday and Scotland on Saturday.
Against Scotland Justin Sherriff again kept up his remarkable goal scoring record with two strikes, John Jermyn claiming the third.
WEEKEND RESULTS
MANCHESTER TOURNAMENT
England 1 (D Mathews), Ireland 3 (J Stevenson, M Raphael, S Butler; Ireland 3 (J Sherriff 2, J Jermyn), Scotland 0.
UNDER-16 INTERNATIONALS
Ireland 3 (K Black, J Jackson, R McFarlane), Scotland 4; Ireland 4 (C Morris 2, G McCabe pen, A Sothern), Scotland 3.
