Celtic Cup Update - Day Four

Ireland 3 (A Speers, N Symmons, AO'Flanagan) Wales 1 (P Richards)

Ireland's women claimed silver at the Women's Celtic Cup as Denis Pritchard recorded his first victory since taking over as interim coach of the side. They ousted Wales 3-1 at Comber Road this afternoon, showing an edge in class over the world number 27 side on a day when Chloe Watkins earned her 50th cap.

Skipper Alex Speers got her side off to theperfect start with a delightful goal, created by the left-wing trickery of Aine Connery who drew in three players before laying off to Emma Clarke. On the left baseline, Clarke threaded agreat ball to Speers in front of goal whose first touch took the ball away fromkeeper Anna Morris and her second tapped in for a fourth minute lead.

From there, chances came and went but no further changes in the score accrued until the second half. Nikki Symmons cracked home a low bullet through Morris's defences eight minutes after theinterval from the right of the circle.

All but down and out, the Welsh visitorsshowed their best hockey of the weekend in the closing phases with SophieRobinson and Leah Wilkinson causing problems, allowing Phoebe Richards to graba 66th minute lifeline.

But Anna O'Flanagan coolly finished off afine solo effort a minute later to confirm the win. Scotland had won the titlea day earlier with two wins from two games, beating Wales 3-0 to add to their2-1 win over Ireland on Friday.

Men's Celtic Cup - Ireland 1 (Stephen Dowds) Wales 1 (Joe Naughalty)

Ireland's men claimed their fifth successive Celtic Cup crown in Lisburn today as they got the point they needed to top the four-team competition.

Despite bossing the vast majority of the tie, it was a laboured performance that almost came a cropper as Wales closed out the tie strongly.

Stephen Dowds' first international goal broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with an innovative effort, punching the ball into the ground on his reverse, Eugene Magee's five-metre free the creative source.

It was a just reward, finally breaking down the defences of the Welsh goalkeepers, David Kettle in the first half and Iwan Williams in the second period.

Six penalty corners went unconverted while Mikey Watt and Timmy Cockram created numerous openings but none further would go in.

It left Ireland open to a sucker-punch that should have come when Mark Whatling was unjustly denied an equaliser, the umpire too quick to pull play back for an earlier Irish infringement.

Huw Jones missed a gilt-edge chance soon after but Ireland were denied the three points when Joe Naughalty finished off a pitch length move with a sweetly taken finish.

Liam Brignull almost won it at the death, too, but dithered allowing debutant goalkeeper Ian Hughes to shut down the chance.

Following wins over Scotland and South Africa, the draw meant Ireland won the competition with seven points one clear of the Africans who closed their campaign with a crackerjack 6-5 win over the Scots.