For both the Irish Under-21 men and women, their EuroHockey Junior Championship campaigns ended on thoroughly unsatisfactory notes in Valencia.
The men were relegated despite earning their first win in the top tier since 2000, beating Portugal 11-2 with Luke Madeley netting five times.
But previous results meant they fell nine short of Austria on goal difference, leaving them in seventh place from the eight-team tournament and destined for the second tier.
On the women’s side, the situation is more complex. Ireland were due to play hosts Spain in an all-or-nothing tie to avoid the drop on Sunday morning, but five of the Spanish side were hospitalised with a virus with medical advice barring them from lining out.
As a result, the European Hockey Federation released a statement saying that “given these unprecedented circumstances, the two TDs and the EHF representative have agreed to defer any further decisions to the EHF Executive Board”. That board meeting is set to take place in a month’s time.
EuroHockey Junior Championships
Men
Pool C: Ireland 11 (L Madeley 5, S Wolfe 2, J Mullins, C Empey, G Cole, J Dale) Portugal 2 (J Basilio, V Ribeiro)
Standings: 1. England 9pts (+15) 2. Austria 4pts (+12) 3. Ireland 4pts (+3) 4. Portugal 0pts (-30)
