NATIONS Cup action finally resumed last Friday in Prague, Czech Republic, and Team Ireland got off to an impressing start when finishing runners-up in the 13-team competition.

Michael Blake named a strong squad of Mark McAuley (Jasco Vd Bisschop), Bertram Allen (Gun Powder), Michael Duffy (Jeff Ten Halven) and Anthony Condon (SFS Aristio) and they were joint leaders at the half-way stage after three perfect clears.