Stage one of Ireland's build-up to the Olympic Qualifier in March ended in defeat yesterday in Barcelona when they lost 2-1 to Spain in an unofficial international, a marked improvement on their 6-1 drubbing by the same opposition six days ago.

Defensive errors led to the concession of two penalty corners which were converted by Sonia Barrio and Nuria Marino, one in each half, to give Spain a 2-0 lead but Jenny Burke pulled a goal back for Ireland midway through the second half when she tipped home a superb Arlene Thompson pass.

Unlike Thursday's game, when they fielded a weakened team, Spain were at full strength yesterday but never threatened to overrun Ireland as they had done in their Four Nations' meeting last weekend. The teams next meet in their final pool match in the Olympic Qualifier on March 29.

"Much better," said coach Riet Kuper after the game. "Now our players know they can compete against Spain. We came here unprepared and were punished for it last weekend but we've improved considerably since then and everyone is happier now."

Kuper picked out Thompson and Daphne Sixsmith as Ireland's best players of the week, saying that Sixsmith "gets better with every game and will be a key player for Ireland in the future". She admitted, however, that the four uncapped players - Shauna Parkhill, Angela Platt, Jenny Osborne and Cathy McKean - had found the going tough. "They realise now that it is a different world at this level - they have plenty of potential but they might not be ready just yet."

Next stop for Ireland in their build-up is San Diego, where they travel next month, and it has also been confirmed that Japan will visit Dublin for two friendly internationals the weekend before the Olympic Qualifier.