WOMEN'S HOCKEY:In a game that saw Eimear Cregan win her 100th senior cap, Ireland beat Italy 3-2 at Belfield yesterday, the hosts' third victory in the four-match series, the first of the games ending in a draw on Thursday. It proved to be an encouraging series for coach Gene Muller and his young side, who face Italy again in August's European Championships.

A 21st-minute goal from Emma Clarke settled Saturday's game but Ireland twice had to come from behind yesterday, before getting the winner with just seconds to go. Bridget McKeever levelled in the ninth minute, firing home the rebound from Jill Orbinson's short corner strike, just two minutes after Italy had taken the lead through Roberta Marrocu, but Ireland fell behind again midway through the second half when Jasbeer Singh scored. Hannah Bowe made it 2-2 when she lobbed the Italian goalkeeper from Ireland's sixth short corner of the game, and it was from their eighth and last that the old Loreto one-two snatched the win, Cathy McKean converting after being picked out by Nikki Symmons.

The news wasn't so good from Madrid where Old Alexandra failed to retain Ireland's A Division status in the European Cup Winners' Cup after suffering the agony of losing a penalty strokes competition, 5-4 in sudden death, to Viktoria Smolevichi of Belarus after their play-off had ended 1-1.