Eire: Eire Left Chasing Semi-final Berth After Opening Loss

Eire girls suffered a 2-0 loss to favourites Spain of their opening match of the Girls’s FIH Hockey Nations Cup this afternoon. Sean Dancer’s aspect have been chasing the sport nearly from the outset as Spain began the sport in electrical trend, profitable a penalty nook inside two minutes and slotting house a slick drag flick previous Elizabeth Murphy in objective.

Eire utilized good stress all through the match, forcing Spain to play rather a lot inside their very own half and profitable possession with regularity. It was the ultimate cross that was lacking for the ladies in inexperienced which is a component they’ll hope to rectify transferring ahead within the match.

After that opening shock, Eire grew into the match and ahead Zara Malseed had a great likelihood to convey her aspect degree when Eire received the ball within the press within the sixth minute, however her highly effective shot went vast. And once they received a penalty nook with 4 seconds left on the clock within the first quarter, Irish supporters have been up on their ft. Spain opted to not ship out a flyer and an Eire runner was judged to have obstructed within the circle, and so the possibility was squandered as a free out was awarded to Spain.

The second quarter went a lot the best way of the primary, with Spain profitable an early penalty nook which Eire handled properly on this event. Then Malseed once more had an opportunity to degree issues up when she shot on the reverse and drew a save by the Spanish keeper.

Lizzy Murphy in objective made some necessary interventions, exhibiting confidence whereas deputising for Eire’s typical first-choice keeper, Ayeisha McFerran. One other penalty nook for Spain was shot vast late on within the quarter and Eire went on a fast break, exhibiting how harmful they’re on the counter however late Eire stress didn’t lead to an final result and the rating remained 1-0 to Spain at half-time.

The host nation started the second half simply how they started the primary, profitable a penalty nook and scoring with devastating precision. A sweep from the left of the circle was deflected on the backhand into the roof of the online, exhibiting why Spain look to win corners each time they’re within the opposition’s circle, and that second objective knocked the stuffing out of Eire.

Dancer’s fees stored pushing, although, with Christina Hamill and Sarah Hawkshaw, particularly, making inroads, and a well-won nook within the fortieth minute was the reward. Roisin Upton dragged low to the left, however Spain saved properly. Eire had a lot of the possession and maintained the stress on Spain, who marked and defended tightly, absorbing every part the inexperienced machine threw at them.

Within the closing quarter, Spain performed the sidelines properly and opened Eire up as they tried to push for targets, Roisin Upton foraying ahead along with her attribute, mazy runs. With two targets in entrance, although, Spain have been capable of sit deep when defending and gave Eire no area to assault into as massive quantities of possession got here to nothing for the ladies in inexperienced.

Coach Sean Dancer shouldn’t be too frightened in regards to the place Eire now discover themselves in. He stated: “I used to be happy with the general efficiency right now. It’s been a giant studying curve for lots of those ladies and it began with the World Cup (in the summertime). After the World Cup we reviewed and we actually labored onerous on a number of areas so it was nice to see these areas come by means of right now. We wish to play with pace, tempo, we wish to use the abilities that we’ve got and it was nice to that working properly right now.

“We wish to be within the semi-final when it will get to that stage so tomorrow is basically necessary for us. We performed some good hockey right now, at phases we managed the sport properly, and that’s what we have to take into tomorrow’s efficiency.” With that being stated, he felt that with a bit extra leading edge, it may have been a special end result. “Dropping 2-0 is disappointing, particularly with the movement of the sport. Each groups had some good alternatives and to Spain’s credit score they took their two penalty corners fairly properly – tough to cease – so we’re disenchanted with the end result.”

Eire captain Katie Mullan is happy about how a lot her workforce nonetheless has to present on this match. “It was a tricky first sport, I feel we dominated at occasions, we had some actually good alternatives and sadly, we simply weren’t medical sufficient. I feel Spain actually took their alternatives once they had them. They have been environment friendly off their penalty nook assault and there’s a number of issues now for us to go away and be taught from and put together for tomorrow’s sport, however we’re actually excited. We’re enjoying some good hockey and all eyes are on tomorrow now.”

Eire play their second Pool A match tomorrow (Monday) at 9.45am towards Italy and Dancer says enjoying one of many high groups in Spain right now, units them up properly for the remaining matches. “Spain and India are the 2 highest ranked groups right here; each are going to be very onerous to beat. I feel it helps us for tomorrow’s sport that we performed properly towards Spain. Italy are a special opponent however with the Italian and Argentinian affect, there are comparable performs to what Spain did right now, so we’re trying ahead to the chance to take a step up once more tomorrow and maintain doing the issues we did properly right now,” he added.

Right now’s loss means Eire, almost definitely, must win their remaining two pool matches towards Italy and Korea to complete within the high two of their group and into the semi-final matches later this week. The workforce that wins the ultimate of the Inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup, wins a spot within the 2023 FIH Professional League.