Men's Hockey European Championship: Almost a perfect game for Ireland. Another goal, which was easily within the reach of this team performance, and Ireland would have scored one more than France did against the same opposition.

When the goals are added up at the end of the five pool games, it could prove to be a decisive factor.

Still, Ireland and Justin Sherriff in particular showed how effective this side can be going forward with confidence.

Ireland needed their forward to come back into form and for the second time this week he delivered, with no small degree of touch and class.

Following his two goals against Spain in the opening match and his hat-trick yesterday, the third of his international career, the Pembroke Wanderers striker is currently the highest goal scorer in the tournament.

More control and an ability to run the ball around and hold possession characterised the match against a nuggety, uneven Russian side that blended flair and aggression.

But as Ireland showed against Spain and again yesterday, they are a better offensive than defensive outfit and with Sherriff's majestic technical ability allied to the redoubtable skills of Mark Irwin, Stephen Butler, Nigel Buttimer and Mark Raphael, they are more than capable of splitting even the toughest of defences.

Their match against Germany today will show just how capable, but Ireland will be going into it fearlessly.

It was a quick free to Sherriff after a midfield turnover that gifted the striker his first goal. Textbook style, Sherriff picked out Irwin in the left channel before running in support to create a two on one with the goalkeeper. Irwin timed his return to perfection and the onrushing Sherriff slipped the ball into an empty net.

While Russia were always dangerous and forced a number of reaction saves from Wesley Batemen, Ireland had most of the ball but frustratingly went into half time with just one goal to show.

Shortly after the break, Sherriff popped up again and Graham Shaw's perfectly drilled ball found him in the circle. Sherriff against the goalkeeper with space? It was a no brainer and Ireland went two ahead.

His third again demonstrated his poise and quick hands, this time a push from Nigel Buttimer into the crowded goal area found its way on to his stick.

For the second time the Russian goalkeeper went scrambling to cover the tall striker's fluid drift to the right but to no effect, Sherriff's final flick to the net making a difficult movement appear remarkably easy.

"We expected to be able to win by a clear margin. We created the chances, scored three and could have scored three or four more," said coach John Clarke. "We really should have gotten more in the first half."

Ireland will now play Germany, with all players available including Gordon Elliott and Nigel Henderson, who were injured for yesterday's game.

IRELAND: W Bateman, P Brown, E Lutton (capt), D Smyth, J Black, M Raphael, C Jackson, N Buttimer, A Barbour, Sherriff, M Irwin. Rolling subs: S Butler, G Shaw, D Hobbs, J Jermyn.

RUSSIA: I Dobijine, E Mokrousov, T Nikolaev, A Tchernikov, S Stasyuk (capt.), I Ivanov, A Platonov, A Krasnoiartsev, S Tchckaline, D Chelesttouk, V Kouznetsov. Rolling subs: A Tigounov, I Garifzyanov, D Volkov, A Sorokin.

Umpires: T Langle, R Curti.