Ireland women extend winning run

Áine Connery's double helped Ireland complete a clean sweep over Scotland in Dublin this week with a 4-0 victory and extended their winning run to seven games.

It leaves them in positive mood heading into 2015 and next March’s World League round two as their Olympic qualifying campaign begins in earnest.

Ireland were far too strong yesterday at Alexandra College. Deirdre Duke popped home a simple first goal off. Connery then thumped home the second before half-time and applied a beautiful touch to a right wing cross for the third.

Anna O’Flanagan bundled home a fourth in the dying moments to complete an intense year for the side, playing 35 Test matches.

Head coach Darren Smith said afterwards: "We played a lot of Tests in 2014. Each one, we trying to get better and see if we can play good hockey. It think we have done that but we have to be mindful of continuing."

IRELAND: A McFerran, E Smyth; S McCay; M Frazer; N Carroll; A Connery; C Watkins; N Daly; H Matthews; A O'Flanagan; G Pinder. Subs: S Davis; C Brown; N Evans; K Mullan; D Duke; K Dillon; E Beatty.
SCOTLAND: N Cochrane, S Roberston; K Marshall; R Merchant; N Kidd; S McGilveray; A Howie; N Skrastin; A Davis; A McNeil; L Campbell. Subs: K Peters; E McGregor; A Brodie; J Morris; M Morris; R Collins.