Hockey: U21 Scots retain title in Cookstown

SCOTLAND'S Under-21 Men retained their Celtic Cup title in Cookstown after a thrilling 4-4 draw with Ireland which left them winners on goal difference.

The Scots were trailing at the break after conceding a scrappy field goal, but they levelled soon after the restart through Gordon McIntyre. Ireland then hit back with a field goal before Callum Duke dispossessed an Irish defender and fed the ball to Kenny Bain who crossed for McIntyre to slot home his second.

Again the Scots found themselves behind to an Irish short corner routine but levelled for the third time from a Cairns short corner strike. With five minutes left Kenny Bain gave the Scots the lead for the first time in the match, but Ireland levelled from another corner, finally bundling the ball home despite Tom Alexander's heroic triple effort to deny them.

Ireland tried everything in two hectic final minutes to find the winner they needed to take the title, but Scotland withstood the pressure to claim the point needed to retain the Celtic Cup.