Sport

Irish women beaten to bronze by Slovakia

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THE Ireland women's water polo team gave an excellent account of themselves before narrowly missing out on the bronze medals when they lost 11-9 to Slovakia in the 3rd/4th place play-off in the EU 8 Nation tournament at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

They followed up a 12-12 draw against Sweden in their opening group game with a 9-7 win over Switzerland.

The other team in their group was Slovakia, who beat them by the same score, 11-9, as they would do later in the tournament. That result, however, was enough to pip Sweden on goal difference and propel Ireland into a semi-final against South Africa.

Coach Declan McKerr had clearly set out his stall for the 3rd/4th place play-off and South Africa easily beat a makeshift team 28-5. On their way to the semi-final, South Africa had beaten Scotland (17-3), Denmark (21-6) and the Czech Republic (14-5), and they went on to beat the Czechs in the final on a 13-5 scoreline.

The Ireland team was backboned by the country's top two club sides - Cathal Brugha and St Vincent's - and team captain Deirdre Cassidy, along with Brugha colleagues Lynn Hanna Short and Órla Monaghan, made an outstanding contribution. The St Vincent's contingent were not found wanting either, with top class performances from Salina Smellers, Lisa Kelly and the Baker sisters - Mairéad and Róisín.

Other players to make a big impression were Glenalbyn goalkeeper Izzy Banks and Newry girl Aoife Lynch of Donegall Diamonds, who scored a couple of vital goals for the Irish team.

* DROGHEDA'S Ciarán Farrelly reckons that, at 52 years-of-age, he is the oldest player to score the winning goal in a major Irish League game when he fired home a late shot against Grads. The goal helped his side retain their Division Two status for next season and consigned the Belfast side to another year in Division 3. The game was played during a break in the women's internationals.

* ON the competitive swimming front, teams from Belfast Royal Academy had quite a day at the Irish Senior Schools Relay Championships when they won four of the eight events they entered.

Scarlett Armstrong, Cher Enriques, Lydia Mees and Sophia Del Castillo did the double in the girls' 13-14 years medley and freestyle relays, with Conor Ferguson, Finn Purdy, Lui Hurson and Philip O'Callaghan performing similar heroics in the boys' 15-16 age group.

* KEY PLAYERS: Cathal Brugha trio Lynn Hanna Short, Órla Monaghan and team captain Deirdre Cassidy pictured before Ireland's game against Slovakia in the EU 8 Nation tournament