Ireland 3 Italy 0:Ireland's
bid to retain their elite status got off to a promising start at
the European hockey championships in Manchester thanks to a
three-nil win over Italy.
Defeat at the hands of Holland and England in Pool A meant a result against the Italians was a must.
Italy had already conceded 13 goals in their games against the top two and they weren't long shipping another as their campaign faltered further at Bellevue Hockey Centre.
Cathy McKean opened the scoring for Ireland after just 10 minute when she tipped and airborne cross into an open goal.
The teams went in level at the break but the second came from Ireland's fifth corner of the afternoon, when Jenny McDonough redirected Nikki Symmons's shot past Roberta Lilliu in the Italian goal.
Symmons then sealed the win four minutes from time when she raced on to Linda Caulfield's pass and blasted into the net.
The races for fifth to eighth continue on Thursday when Ireland face Ukraine at noon and Italy take on Azerbaijan at 2pm.