Young Scots take second in Celtic Cup after Wales win

Scotland’S under-18 women came second in the youth Celtic Cup at Peffermill after beating Wales 3-1 in the final pool match. The Scots went ahead in seven minutes when Inverleith’s Clare Laverty converted a penalty corner low into the bottom corner of the net.

Although Wales equalised following a scramble in front of goal four minutes later, Laverty again found the net from a set piece after her shot deflected off the stick of a defender into the roof of the net.

There was only one goal in the second half, an intricate passing move involving Emily Watson and Amber McNeill pushed the ball on to Grange’s Lucy Preston in the circle and she made no mistake as she swept the ball past the goalkeeper for 3-1.

The Celtic Cup effectively disappeared when the Scots youngsters went down 4-2 to Ireland on Saturday. They went behind in only 42 seconds but retaliated to reach the interval level at 1-1, Watsonians’ Kirsten Peters drove into the circle and her strike went through the Irish goalkeeper.

Ten minutes into the second half, the Scots took a shock lead when Jenny Eadie struck a penalty corner goalwards and CALA Edinburgh’s Amber McNeill deflected the ball home. But the power of the Irish began to tell and they scored three further goals to win the match 4-2.

Scotland’s men finished third when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Wales, who finished a place above them on goal difference. After a goalless first half, Scotland took the lead at a penalty corner, the build-up coming from Fergus Sandison and Lee Morton, with Watsonians’ Danny Cain converting. Further chances fell to Sandison and Inverleith’s Tom Barton but, in the final 20 seconds, Wales stole the equaliser.

On Saturday, the Scots lost 3-0 to Ireland. The only chances for the Scots to score fell to Glynhill Kelburne’s Lee Morton late in the game but he failed to find the target.