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IRELAND Women, featuring Ulster players Chloe Brown, Jenna McCarlie, Ellen Robinson and Laura Graham, convincingly defeated Luthuania 5-1 in a thrilling finish to take Gold at the EuroHockey Indoor Championship II in Galway, earning promotion to Division 1. 

After a massive 9-1 win over Portugal and disappointing 5-5 draw with Slovakia on day two, Ireland went into their final pool match of the tournament trailing leaders Lithuania by two points with a simple mission. Nothing less than a win over Lithuania would be good enough to secure promotion to the top tier of European Indoor Hockey. 

There was no scoring at all in the first quarter with all the goals coming in the hectic final 10 minutes. Dovile Juraite opened the scoring for Lithuania in the 20^th minute and Lithuania led 1-0 at half time. Orla Fox converted a penalty corner to get Ireland on level terms in the 31^st minute. At 1-1, a final result like this would have given Lithuania the title, however.

The turning point came when Lithuania’s goal hero Dovile Juraite was yellow carded in 32^nd minute and Ireland surged ahead while her team were shorthanded. Chloe Brown converted a penalty corner in the 32^nd minute to make it 2-1 to Ireland. Milla Fulton scored from open play in the 34^th minute for 3-1 and Chloe Brown converted her second penalty corner of the day to make it 4-1 to Ireland in the 35^th minute. Four minutes later Ireland were awarded a penalty stroke which Orla Fox converted to make the final score 5-1. 

This put Ireland into first place by one point, securing the tournament gold medal and the right to play in the higher echelon of European Indoor Hockey next time around.

IRELAND:- Emma Buckley (GK ) ; Sarah Patton, Mikayla Power, Chloe Brown, Orla Fox , Milla Fulton

SUBS USED : Kate Hora (39 mins GK) ;  Laura Graham (4 mins)  Orla Patton (C) (4  mins) Orla Macken (22 mins)  Ellen Robinson (7 mins)

FINAL STANDING 

IRELAND 1^st place  13 points +21 Goal difference

LITHUANIA 2^nd place 12 points +12 goal difference

CROATIA 3^rd place  9 points +5 goal difference

SLOVAKIA  4^th place 5 points -4 goal difference

SWEDEN 5^th place 3 points -10 goal difference

PORTUGAL 6^th place 1 point -24 goal difference

BELOW: (from left) the four Ulster players in the squad, Chloe Brown, Jenna McCarlie, Ellen Robinson and Laura Graham

Pictures: Alwyn Robinson via Hockey Ireland