Cricket:Ireland will face Scotland for the the European Championship title tomorrow after beating Italy by four wickets in Malahide today.
Ireland totalled 158 but lost the same amount of wickets to the Italians, who have grown in confidence since their opening day win over the Netherlands.
Seventeen-year-old Paul Stirling hit a half century for the homeside in whay will be a welcome return to form ahead of tomorrow's decider.
Andrew Poynter was also on form, making 20 in a fifth-wicket partnership of 60 with Stirling after Ireland were reduced to 75 for four at the end of the 25th over.
At the top of the Irish order it was William Porterfield and Gary Wilson who set the tone with 53 between them before being bowled by Andy Northcote.
Stirling then hit 50, including four boundaries, from 64 deliveries but Peter Petricola removed Alex Cusack for seven and Reinhardt Strydom for a duck.
Stirling moved to 58 and then watched as Kevin O'Brien hit two runs to secure the win with more than 13 overs to spare.
SCORECARD At Malahide.
Italy won the toss and batted.
ITALY
A Northcote lbw b Cusack 9
T Kurukulasuriya lbw b K O'Brien 16
A Bonora c Porterfield b G Kidd 31
P Petricola c Wilson b Cusack 18
J Scuderi run out 29
H Jayasena c White b K O'Brien 23
N Northcote not out 12
K Perera retired hurt 1
G de Silva not out 2
Extras (lb7 w10) 17
Total (for 6 wkts, 50 ovs) 158
DNB: D Alaud, D Sarnelli.
Fall: 1-24, 2-32, 3-54, 4-114, 5-120, 6-153.
Bowling: M Fourie 8-1-25-0; K O'Brien 10-2-27-2; A Cusack 9-1-28-2; K McCallan 10-1-20-0; G Kidd 10-0-27-1; A White 3-0-24-0.
IRELAND
W Porterfield lbw b A Northcote 21
G Wilson c N Northcote b A Northcote 32
P Stirling not out 58
A Cusack c Scuderi b Petricola 7
R Strydom lbw b Petricola 0
A Poynter b de Silva 20
A White lbw b Bonora 11
K O'Brien not out 2
Extras (lb2 w8) 10
Total (for 6 wkts, 36.5 ovs)
DNB: K McCallan, T Fourie, G Kidd
Fall: 1-40, 2-58, 3-69, 4-75, 5-135, 6-153
Bowling: D Alaud 4-0-18-0; G de Silva 8-1-35-1; P Petricola 8-2-27-2; A Northcote 8-0-41-2; H Jayasena 7-0-31-0; A Bonora 1.5-0-5-1.
Ireland won by 4 wickets.