Irish U21 men on the way up but women drop out after Spain loss

IRELAND’S Under-21 men are in sight of promotion back into the top flight of the European Junior Championship following a superb 7-1 win over Turkey in the Czech Republic yesterday.

However, the U21 women are heading in the other direction after being relegated following a

4-0 loss to hosts Spain in Valencia last night, leaving them fighting it out for the minor placings.

In Litice, the men go marching on after making it three wins from three starts to book a semi-final date with Scotland tomorrow (1.45pm) when a win would clinch them promotion.

Ireland will be confident of doing the business after beating the Scots three times in the build-up.

Monkstown’s Guy Sarratt (left) hit a hat-trick with Ulster’s Callum Robson, David Mawhinney, Ali Empey and Ben Johnson also on target. Results: European U21 Championship: Men: Ireland 7 (D Mawhinney, G Sarratt 3, C Robson, A Empey, B Johnson) Turkey 1. Women: Spain 4 Ireland 0. Tonight: France v Ireland (7pm).

Six Nations (Eindhoven): Boys: U16: Ireland 2 (C Mackay, M Aughey) Germany 4. U18: Ireland 1 (E Jennings) Germany 4. Girls: U16: Ireland 0 Germany 10. U18: Ireland 1 (O Mullan) Germany 2. PETER Bothwell added another two wins to his collection at the Davis Cup in San Marino yesterday as Ireland made it three from three with a 3-0 victory over Andorra.

The Hillsborough man (right) defeated Pablo Ricardo Rodeiro-Stensoni 6-3, 6-3 at No.1 singles and then teamed up with Julian Bradley to beat the Andorran pair 6-2, 6-2 in the doubles.

With Simon Carr also winning his singles rubber earlier in the day, Ireland have now whitewashed two of their three opponents in the fourth-tier of the Euro-Africa Zone. A win over Malta tomorrow, after a rest day today, will see Bothwell’s team win the group and set up a promotion decider — almost certainly with Cyprus — at the weekend.

The 22-year-old Ulsterman said: “I don’t think I’ve played my best tennis yet so, hopefully, I am playing myself into form for when it matters most but the rest of guys have been in good nick, so it’s been good. “After playing two matches in the one day on Tuesday, we’re looking forward to the rest day but we’ll get plenty of practice in order to stay sharp.”