There were mixed fortunes for the Irish under-18 and under-16 teams who were in action in the European Youth Trophy tournaments in Belfast and Antwerp yesterday, but both Old Alexandra and Pegasus got their Cup Winners' Cup and Club Championship' campaigns off to a winning start in Italy.
In Antwerp, the under-16 team showed plenty of character to recover from Thursday's heavy defeat by England to beat France 2-0 in their second Pool B match.
Jan McGowan gave the Irish the lead after just two minutes from a short corner and 12 minutes into the second half Sarah Wilkinson rounded off a superb move to extend the margin. Disciplined defending denied the French the chance to get back into the game with captain Bridget McKeever outstanding for the Irish in midfield and Leanne Ryan also catching the eye.
For the first 34 minutes of their encounter with the might of Germany in Belfast, the under-18 team was no less impressive but Ulrich Patschkowski finally broke the deadlock from a short corner.
Jenny McDonough came desperately close to equalising just seconds later when she hit the post, but it proved to be the final scare of the afternoon for Germany who took control in the second half.
From one of their many short corners Alexandra Kollmar made it 2-0 in the 46th minute and from then, by coach Erika Henry's own admission, the Irish were "run ragged". But for heroic performances by goalkeeper Louisa Healy and Linda O'Neill in defence, the Germans would have recorded a more emphatic victory.
Meanwhile, Old Alexandra got off to an excellent start in their first European campaign for seven years when they beat Austrian side Akademischer 4-0 in Rome.
Zanya Dahl opened the account in the fifth minute, and she scored again early in the second half, deflecting home Carol Metchette's free. Then Richelle Flanagan rounded off a breakaway move and, with just 10 seconds left, Tracey Skoyles completed the tally.
In Rome, Pegasus opened their challenge in beating Lithuanian side Siauliai 3-1. Claire McMahon, Arlene Thompson and Joanne Campbell put the Ulster champions 3-0 up before Siauliai scored a late consolation goal.
