Late drama costs Ireland in penultimate FIH Hockey Pro League match against Germany.

Friday, June 26 – Berlin, Germany: The Ireland Women’s Hockey team once again fell at the hands of late goals in their penultimate FIH Hockey Pro League match of the season against Germany. A goal in the opening quarter gave the hosts the lead, but Ireland fought back to level terms with six minutes to play, Roisin Upton finding the back of the net. Germany wasted no time restoring their lead from a penalty corner of their own before adding a third to put the result out of Ireland’s reach.

 

Now sitting in bottom spot after England caused an upset against Argentina to grab a bonus point draw, points of any kind were vital for Ireland as they went into their final matches in Berlin, closing out their maiden FIH Hockey Pro League season with meetings against Germany and China.

Germany, threatened early in the tie calling Ireland goalkeeper Elizabeth Murphy into early action to make a save. The early warning shot sprung Ireland into action, sending a number of attacking waves to test the German defence. Germany though, won the game’s first penalty corner, taking a quick free hit and driving into the Irish circle before finding a foot. Elizabeth Murphy was on hand to make the first save, but Germany responded first to the loose ball to deliver the ball to Lilly Stoffesma to tap in.

Ireland had to continue to defend, Ellen Curran intercepting a dangerous pull back. Germany reclaimed possession and played the ball back into the circle, winning another penalty corner. This time, Caitlin Sherin was on hand to stop the strike at goal and clear.

Ireland upped their intensity in the second quarter with some clever interchanges and persistence from the attacking unit working the ball into the German circle and finding Emily Kealy who won Ireland’s first penalty corner. Hannah McLoughlin was the target, but her strike at goal was well blocked forcing Ireland to retreat quicky to thwart a German counterattack.

The hosts dominated possession and territory in the minutes that followed, forcing Ireland to defend with real grit to stay within a goal, while applying considerable pressure in their press to deny Ireland easy exits from their own defensive quarter. The pressure eventually paid dividends, as Germany broke into the corner and won a penalty corner, but their flick at goal went wide of the post.

A second penalty corner for Germany forced Sarah Torrans into duties as she ran down the effort at goal bravely to keep Ireland within a goal of their opponent going into the half-time break.

Knowing they needed to find a route back into the match, Ireland once again kept up their intensity and immediately found some joy as they broke into the German defensive third from the off. A superb pass from Roisin Upton and a deft touch from Michelle Carey allowed twin sister Niamh to break down the left and find Emily Kealy in the circle. Kealy played a near inch perfect pass across goal, but Ireland couldn’t apply the touch required to divert the ball into the net.

Germany, though, showed their efficiency in attack, breaking and winning a penalty corner which forced Elizabeth Murphy into a good save. With momentum in their favour again, Germany won a second penalty corner, but once again Ireland had their goal line covered as Roisin Upton deflected the ball wide.

An energy sapping final quarter saw Ireland throw every ounce of energy they had remaining at Germany, with early pressure almost coming good. A heavy challenge on Charlotte Beggs resulted in a green card for Germany, giving Ireland a player advantage that they immediately used to good effect to stretch their opposition and win a penalty corner.

Ireland’s first effort on goal from Roisin Upton was saved, but Hannah McLoughlin recovered the ball well to win a second penalty corner. From the second effort Roisin Upton stepped up again, this time flicking powerfully into the bottom corner to draw Ireland level with six minutes remaining.

Up the other end, Murphy was required once again to keep Germany at bay, but from the save Germany found an Irish foot for a penalty corner of their own. Germany found the back of the net from the penalty corner, to dampen Irish spirits once again.

Ireland, though, were not giving up, withdrawing Murphy as they looked to manufacture another chance at goal. A yellow card for Germany’s Johanna Hachenberg improved Ireland’s advantage.

Germany, however, ran the ball deep into Irish territory, running down the clock. Ireland’s Caoimhe Perdue was red carded in an exceptionally controversial fashion, in what looked like a case of her stick accidentally catching the side of her German counterpart’s head as Perdue tried to free it from under the German’s foot.

With just over a minute to play, Germany broke into the Irish circle and fired into an empty net to put the game beyond reach.

 

The result means Ireland will need to secure at least a point in their final FIH Hockey Pro League match, while also hoping Argentina can do them a favour against England later that same evening.

Ireland face China at 15:30 Irish time tomorrow, June 27.

Hockey Ireland