IRELAND'S build up towards the men's hockey World Cup preliminary round tournament received a significant boost last night at Edinburgh when they opened their programme in the Three Nations, tournament with a 4-1 victory over France.

It was a Avoca's Bobby Ryan, who set Ireland on the road to a highly impressive victory. He converted a cross from Ally Dunne after five minutes but the French responded 14 minutes later with a brilliant strike from Gaillard from an acute angle.

However, the Irish responded with a score from Dave McAnulty three minutes later and from that point they took a firm grip on the contest. Colin Jackson, on his international debut, was the architect but he went one better 12 minutes after halftime when he added a third following a tenacious solo run.

Then, nine minutes from time, Ireland completed a good night's work with a fourth goal. It came from Julian Stevenson after Pembroke Wanderers' Devon Donnelly had set up the opening with a well judged cross from the left flank.

Ireland's next game is against Scotland tomorrow but, having watched the Scots crash to a 2-1 defeat against their reserves, Ireland will be extremely confident of extending their winning sequence.