Thursday, June 18 – Rotterdam, The Netherlands: The Ireland Women’s Hockey Team build on their 1-1 draw the day prior to outclass Spain in the FIH Hockey Pro League. A first quarter goal from Emily Kealy, her first in a green shirt, broke the deadlock. Niamh Carey’s sublime reverse stick strike doubled the lead in quarter 3 before Sarah McAuley added a fourth, deflecting in a penalty corner. A late Spain goal gave them a brief glimmer of hope, but Ireland quickly quelled any hopes of a comeback to secure a crucial three points in their bid to remain in the FIH Hockey Pro League next season.
A positive first meeting with the Red Sticks the day before bestowed plenty of confidence on the Irish side ahead of their final FIH Hockey Pro League match in The Netherlands. Ireland immediately set their high press but an early line break from Spain forced Elizabeth Murphy into an early save as she took her place in the Irish goal for the first time in this stage.
Ireland, though, gained their composure after the early scare and applied pressure of their own, Michelle Carey intercepting the ball and releasing twin sister Niamh to threaten inside the circle. Ireland continued to threaten in the minutes that followed, Lisa Mulcahy stepping up next to recover the ball and release Sarah Torrans. The Irish forward linked with Aisling Utri who, under pressure, played an inventive first-time ball towards the supporting Sarah Hawkshaw, but the ball was just out of reach of the Irish captain and Spain escaped unscathed.
Ireland’s first shot at goal came following some individual brilliance from Michelle Carey who skipped through two players and found Emily Kealy. Kealy pivoted, finding an inch of space to shoot, but her effort went just wide of the near post. A second chance followed a minute later, this time Aisling Utri winning the ball and allowing Niamh Carey to break forward. She squeezed into the circle from a tight angle and tried to find Kealy once again on the penalty spot, but Spanish goalkeeper Clara Perez smothered any chance at goal and cleared.
Despite the blistering 30-degree heat, the intensity of the tie carried into the second quarter. Spain pinned Ireland back early, threatening from their press and getting some joy from it but Ireland remained disciplined in defence to fend off any clear chances at goal. In possession Ireland showed promise in the centre of the park, but couldn’t find the connections they need to turn the possessive phases into chances.
With five minutes to play, Ireland threatened. Some composed play allowed Lisa Mulcahy to find Niamh Carey in Spanish territory. Carey used her pace to drive along the baseline and pull the ball back towards Aisling Utri, but Spain intervened just in time to keep the game level.
With their tails up, Ireland broke into the Spanish circle three more times in quick succession, first through Sarah Torrans, then through Sarah Hawkshaw, and finally through Aisling Utri, with Utri eventually getting an outcome for the efforts, earning a penalty corner for her side. Hannah McLoughlin slapped at goal once again, with Sarah Torrans getting a touch to make this awkward for Perez. From the scramble, Ireland’s Emily Kealy reacted quickest to nudge the ball into the net and break the deadlock, opening her international account.
Ireland though, had to defend in the closing seconds of the quarter, Roisin Upton acting exceptionally bravely to block Marta Segue’s strike from close range. Ireland went into the break a goal to the good.
Spain began the second half with a penalty corner, which Ireland defended well to maintain their lead. Spain applied the pressure as Ireland tried to work the ball out from the back line, eventually getting a green card for some ill-discipline. With an extra player, Ireland stretched Spain, with Jessica McMaster and Niamh Carey combining to get into the circle and draw a penalty corner. Ireland worked a variation from the opportunity, but Spain defended well to clear.
Ireland got their second goal minutes later, Ellen Curran taking a quick free hit and dribbling past two players before finding the electric Niamh Carey who fired into the net to double Ireland’s lead.
A third just evaded Ireland as Sarah Torrans found Aisling Utri in space, she played a ball to goalscorer Emily Kealy, but Carla Perez closed her down to deny her from close range. Following the save Michelle Carey recovered possession and won a penalty corner. Roisin Upton flicked at goal from the corner, finding Sarah McAuley who deflected over Perez to extend Ireland’s lead to three.
Spain withdrew their goalkeeper from the off in the final quarter, allowing them an extra outfield player as they searched for a way back into the tie. Ireland recognised the tactic immediately and adjusted as they quelled Spain. Spain eventually got a clear sight of goal, but Elizabeth Murphy was alive to the effort to block.
With just over six minutes remaining, Spain finally got their goal, Lucia Gimenez reacting quickest to an awkward bouncing ball in the circle to find the back of the net.
A penalty corner with four minutes to play, gave Spain another chance to reduce the deficit. Sarah Torrans stepped up once again to read Spain’s mind and get a stick down to bravely block the strike at goal. Ireland though remained composed, trusting the process and putting in some blinding tackles to keep Spain out and secure three points.
Reflecting on their time in Rotterdam, Gareth Grundie said:
“It was a really pleasing performance tonight. We have grown into this stage of the FIH Hockey Pro League across the course of this week.
The two Dutch games were very good for us to get up to speed. It highlights how important it is to play competitive games as much as we can.
Once we get up to speed, we can challenge people. It’s really pleasing, but we still have a long way to go. We want to keep building on this going into Germany and China next week.”
The victory sees Ireland climb to sixth in the FIH Hockey Pro League standings and put some distance between them and Australia at the bottom of the table. Ireland will now turn their attention to Berlin where they will play their remaining matches, facing Germany and China, starting on Tuesday June 23.