MEN'S HOCKEY: WITH A 3-1 win on Friday night followed by a 5-0 victory on Saturday afternoon, Ireland seemed to have the measure of Scotland in their three-match international series in Banbridge.

In light of the first two encouraging scorelines yesterday’s 1-1 draw was something of a low key end to the weekend.

However, the third Test was with a less experienced Ireland team as South African coach Paul Revington continues to cast a wide net to see what might be his best squad for the World Cup qualifying event next month in Argentina.

Set-piece maestro John Jermyn knocked in two goals on Friday and two more on Saturday, with Mitch Darling, Stephen Butler and Alan Sothern adding one each in the 5-0 result as Ireland sailed comfortably into the weekend.

Yesterday’s draw was more fraught, with Karl Burns coming in for his 100th international cap and Jermyn putting on the captain’s arm band for the first time. Although Ireland fired ahead with a goal from Peter Blakeney, who roofed the ball from play just before half-time, Scotland replied when Gordon McIntyre tidied up from the goalkeeper’s pad to hit the equaliser just after the hour.

Ireland ended the match frustrated that they didn’t capitalise on their numerous chances including a number of short corners at the end of the game.

The truncated Leinster Senior League brought in a few close results on Saturday, with the Paul Cooke-led Railway Union drawing 1-1 with visiting Corinthians and Three Rock Rovers edging out Clontarf 2-1. Corinthians will have travelled to Park Avenue with bigger ambitions and the home side will see the draw as putting down a marker.

Nor did Monkstown have it all their own way with just a 3-2 win over UCD. The students will be seen as an easy touch this year but pushing Monkstown will generate confidence. Consistency might be UCD’s issue once again this season.