A last-minute goal from Caoimhe Perdue kept Ireland on course for a top 10 finish at the Junior World Cup in South Africa, their 2-1 win over Malaysia on Saturday setting up a meeting on Monday with Austria, the winners of which will finish ninth in the 15-team tournament.
Perdue fired home from a penalty corner with just seconds to go to seal the win after Malaysia had cancelled out Rachel Kelly’s 14th-minute opener.
The Netherlands and Germany will meet in the final, the Dutch beating India 3-0 in their semi-final, while the Germans trounced England 8-0.
Back home, Monkstown and Ards won promotion to the top flight of the EY Hockey League on Saturday, replacing Muckross and Cork Harlequins, when they won their Division Two semi-finals, beating Corinthian and Queens, respectively at Whitechurch Park.
Ards rounded off the weekend by beating Monkstown in Sunday’s final to take the Division Two title, a double from Malseed sending them on their way.
HOCKEY LEAGUE - Division Two semi-finals: Monkstown 3 (A O’Flanagan 2, C O’Reilly), Corinthian 1 (L McGrane); Ards 2 (Z Malseed, E Robinson), Queens 1 (M Bowyer). Final: Ards 3 (Z Malseed 2, A Carson), Monkstown 2 (C Watkins, S Moore).
