Following Ireland's decline at senior level in hockey, the rising youth squad continued to promise an exhilarating future by beating the junior World Cup holders Germany, 3-2, in their final game of the Four Nations Under-21 tournament at Milton Keynes, London, yesterday. After losing 4-2 to England, and drawing 2-2 with Belgium, Ireland were not expected to contain the Germans, but this spirited allunder-20 side (building for next year's European championship and beyond) tore into the attack. The front-runners chased with amazing energy right to the finish. Centre forward Graham Shaw was outstanding and was unfortunate not to score from open play, but he, among others forced the Germans to concede 11 short corners, from which John Ahern (coming off the bench) showed fine marksmanship as Ireland led 2-0 at the interval - it should have been more - and were 3-1 up by the 48th minute.Chris Jackson put away the opening goal midway through the first half after Ahern's initial drive had been parried; Ahern found the target with a direct shot four minutes later and swept home the third score, after his first attempt had been blocked, to put victory in sight.Germany had reduced the leeway through Patrick Lanau-Mierke from a corner early in the second half. But with David Smyth an inspiring captain in a composed defence and with Dale McNeill at his sharpest in goal, Germany could not score again until three minutes from the end through Jamilion Mulders. On Saturday Ireland drew with Belgium. Jackson and Justin Sherriff scored for Ireland.