HOCKEY/European Under-21 Championships: After a week of pool matches in the men's and women's under-21 European Championships, the final measure of whether they were successful, from an Irish point of view, will be determined by one cross-over game.
In Nivelles, Belgium, the men, having been defeated 4-1 by Holland yesterday and finishing third in their pool, meet Poland, who came fourth in their group. It is now straightforward. A win for Ireland, to secure at least sixth place, would earn them a place in next year's under-21 World Cup in Holland.
The women, too, are poised for a trip to Santiago, Chile, where the World Cup is being staged, but they must first beat Belarus in their cross-over match at Belfield on Friday. The same brief applies. A win would put them among the top-six teams in Europe, and enough to qualify for Chile.
For the Irish Hockey Association, the combined trips of all of the international sides (six) could next year cost them as much as €200,000, a considerable sum for a small organisation, and that does not include the preparation costs. If both under-21 sides win their respective cross-over matches, the tournaments in Holland and Chile would cost about €75,000.
The senior national sides also have European competitions, the men going to Rome for the European Championships and the women hosting the same competition in Dublin, with both events costing the IHA about €50,000.
The under-18 teams are also involved at European Championship level with both male and female sides travelling to different parts of Poland for their events, set to cost about €50,000.
Still there are few complaints. Ireland falling 4-1 to Holland was entirely predictable. Tim Cockram hit his side's only reply from a short corner just after half-time to make it 2-1. Holland then found the net twice again, Teun Rohof hitting his second goal of the match with just 20 seconds remaining.
The women's final pool match against the Dutch was difficult for the Irish girls as goals went in with dispiriting regularity in the first half.
At 6-0 by the break, with Maartje Paumen hitting a hat-trick in as many minutes, the game became very much damage limitation. Again Ireland battled with passion but their efforts fell short of what was needed against such a technically strong team, some cold comfort coming from the fact they are not the first Irish team to be laid low by the Dutch.
A much stronger second half, in which Ireland played with more organisation and poise, confined Holland to one goal for a final tally of 7-0.
MEN'S EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP: Ireland 1 (T Cockram), Holland 4 Cross-over: Ireland 3rd Pool A v Poland 4th Pool B (Friday 9 a.m.).
WOMEN'S UNDER-21 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP: Ireland 0, Holland 7 (M Paumen 3, N Van As 2, E Hoog 2) Ireland 4th Pool A v Belarus 3rd Pool B (Friday 12.30 p.m.).
