Hockey: Scots pegged back by late Irish strike

SCOTLAND’S women again defied the world rankings when they drew 2-2 with Ireland at Peffermill and would have won the contest but for a last-minute lapse of concentration which allowed the 14th-ranked Irish to steal a belated equaliser.

The catalyst was two penalty-corner strikes by Edinburgh University’s Nikki Kidd, which looked to be enough to take the contest.

The match was an important milestone for two Scotland players. GHK’s Maisie Morris earned her first senior cap, while Becky Ward reached her 50th.

The Irish took the lead early on from a penalty corner, when Audrey O’Flinn fired the ball home, but the Scots replied with a series of penalty corners which Kareena Marshall, Catriona Ralph and Kidd failed to convert, but at the fifth set piece Kidd finally beat the goalkeeper with a fierce low flick. Scotland deservedly went 2-1 ahead at their eighth set piece, again through Kidd, but Lisa Jacob forced the ball home for a late equaliser.

Meanwhile, Scotland girls’ under-16 development squad lost their first two games 3-0 to Ulster at Jordanstown, but drew 0-0 in the final match.