After yesterday's 11-1 demolition of Denmark and an excursion to Venice this morning, Ireland must prepare themselves for a relatively torrid semi-final against Italy tomorrow in the European under-21 hockey championship (B Division) in Padova.

Ireland were vulnerable to counter thrusts in losing 4-3 to Wales on Tuesday, but it would be disappointing if gaps through the middle were to be left open again.

Ireland were five up after 17 minutes with Justin Sherriff notching a hat-trick from short corners and then returning to the bench. Graham Shaw, with a typical slalom-like surge, and Jason Black, from a penalty stroke, also scored in this period of incessant attack. Gary McKee, who will hold a vital role against the Italian playmaker, Loris Perelli, tomorrow, was revelling in central midfield and set up Mark Black to make it 6-nil by the interval. Within 30 seconds of the restart, Chris Jackson sent Shaw through for his second goal and Jackson found the same channel six minutes later for Shaw to emulate Sherriff's hat-trick. Further goals followed quickly from McKee (short corner) and Garry Ringwood with a strike of some relish. It was now 10-0 with 15 minutes still to play, but Denmark replied gallantly through Kristian Joeger from a set-piece before Shaw - as uncatchable as a mosquito - gave Jason Black the chance to set the net quivering again. So Ireland finished with a haul of 21 goals from the three group games and in retrospect the 7-0 defeat of the Czech Republic in the opening match was all the more impressive as the Czechs held Wales to a 1-1 draw yesterday.

Ireland (v Denmark): D McNeill; C Jackson, J Lewis, D Smyth, (captain), D Holley; B Waring, G McKee, J Black; G Shaw, J Sherriff, G Ringwood. Subs: C Henderson, A Chambers, C Clarke, M Black. YESTERDAY'S RESULTS: Pool A: France 9 Gibraltar 1; Italy 2 Portugal 2; Final Placings - 1, Italy 7pts (8-4); 2, France 6pts (17-5); 3, Portugal 4pts (6-10); 4, Gibraltar 0 (3-15). Pool B: Ireland 11 (J Sherriff 3, G Shaw 3, J Black 2, M Black, G McKee, G Ringwood) Denmark 1; Wales 1 Czech Republic 1.

Final placings: 1, Wales 7 pts (11-5); 2, Ire- land 6 pts (21-5); 3, Czech Republic 4 pts (7-8); 4, Denmark 0 (2-23).