Boyles is proud after Irish show grit to push foes England to limit

IRELAND saved their best for last when they went down 1-0 to an England team containing many 2016 Olympic gold medallists in the last of the threematch series at Bisham Abbey.

England, who had won the two earlier games 5-2 and 4-0, scored the only goal of the game early on when they punished Ireland on a counter-attack.

Ireland fought back and were denied an equaliser in the final quarter when Ulster’s Katie Mullan was unlucky to see her backhand shot come off the upright.

Team manager Arlene Boyles said: “It was a good performance, we matched them all over the pitch and were disappointed not to score. We ended a useful camp on a high and now look forward to the next block.”

Meanwhile, Lurgan kept the pressure on Ulster Premier League leaders Queen’s with a 6-2 home win over Ulster Elks. Premier: Lurgan 6 (S McClure 2, O Gibson 2, J Wilson, K Burns) Ulster Elks 2 (J Allen 2) Senior 1: Armagh 2 (K Johnston, K Reynolds) CI 1 (L Ternahan)

McDowell Shield: Larne GS 4 Grosvenor GS 1 McDowell Cup: Rainey 1 Friends’ School 2 McDowell Plate: Strathearn 0 RS Armagh 1 U16 High Schools Cup: Ballyclare Sec 3 Markethill HS 0

Gibson Cup: Ballyclare HS 0 Friends’ School 2 Junior Cup: Rainey 2 Ballyclare HS 0

Junior Plate: Methody 2 Sullivan 2 (Sullivan won on strokes)

U14 High Schools Cup:

Markethill HS 5

Senior Plate: Regent House 1 Belfast HS 0 Senior Shield: Strathearn 1 Portadown 0

Dromore HS 0