WOMEN'S HOCKEY: A WEEK after drawing with world champions Argentina, Ireland produced another encouraging performance against their four nations' hosts on Saturday, only denied another draw by a goal from a penalty corner 10 minutes from time.

Argentina needed a penalty stroke midway through the first half to break the deadlock, having been denied on several occasions by goalkeeper Emma Gray. But Audrey O’Flynn levelled for Ireland soon after the break when she fired home a drag flick.

Disciplined defending from O’Flynn, Sinead McCarthy and Cliodhna Sargent, as well as superb blocking of corner strikes by Nikki Evans, helped keep the game tied, before a deft deflected shot from another corner in the 60th minute gave Gray no chance.

Ireland opened the tournament with a 2-2 draw with South Africa, before losing 2-1 to India, Sargent pulling a goal back after the team had trailed 2-0 at half-time.

Back home, the only scheduled Leinster first division game, between Three Rock and Pembroke Wanderers, was postponed due to a frozen pitch.