August 2023 – Hockey Ireland

Ireland top Pool C and progress to Olympic Qualifiers

IRL – 1 ITA – 1 Match Report

Ireland will be in the Qualification groups for the 2024 Olympics next January in either China or Spain following a 1-1 draw with Italy in their final game at the EuroHockey Championships this morning. Group rivals Spain had played Scotland on Friday and surprisingly lost 2-1.

This meant that if Italy won today’s game with Ireland all four teams in Pool C would have finished on four points. The goal difference advantage meant that as long as it was a victory of two goals or less Ireland would still win Pool C and secure 5^th place in the tournament.

That in turn would achieve the two basic goals for Ireland from these games: One, secure Ireland a spot in the Olympic Qualification groups taking place in January 2024, and two, keep Ireland at the elite level with a place in the EuroHockey Championships in 2025.

Both sides showed endeavour and maintained their discipline in a scoreless first quarter. The second quarter was also uneventful. It only featured a single penalty corner, and that was for the Italians.

The half time score was 0-0.

Things got interesting in the third quarter as Italy went 1-0 up when Sofia Laurito converted a penalty corner. As outlined earlier, a 1-0 defeat would not have been a disaster as Ireland would still have won Pool C on goal difference and 5^th place would have been secured.

However, the Ireland team in 2023 are a different group and have a resilience that was missing in previous years. Trailing 1-0 at the end of quarter three, Ireland began the fourth and final quarter strongly and Naomi Carroll scored from open play in the 48^th minute to make the score 1-1.

What was also remarkable about this game was that both sides were disciplined throughout, and the umpires were not tempted to issue any cards to either side.

The game ended 1-1, Ireland secured a point, winning Pool C. In addition, securing 5^th place means that spot in the Olympic Qualification groups in January 2024 and a spot in the elite tier of European Hockey in 2025.

IRELAND: Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Sarah McAuley, Roisín Upton, Niamh Carey, Sarah Hawkshaw, Katie Mullan (C), Elena Neill, Charlotte Beggs, Caitlin Sherin, Katie Mc Kee, Deirdre Duke

SUBS: Michelle Carey, Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Torrans, Naomi Carroll, Ellen Curran, Caoimhe Perdue

ITALY: Lucia Ines Caruso (GK), Emilia Munitis, Dalila Mirabella, Federica Carta (C), Sara Puglisi, Mercedes Pastor, Sofia Laurito, Lara Oviedo, Ivanna Pessina, Camila Machin

SUBS: Teresa Vittoria Dalla, Ailin Oviedo, Elettra Bormida, Antonella Rinaldi, Candela Caruso, Chiara Di Bella

26 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

International, Media

Images: EuroHockey Championships 2023 Ireland vs Italy

26 August 2023/by Cian Funge

International

IRL take a point from Spain and a step closer – Match Report

Spain – 2 Ireland – 2

For more pictures of the match click HERE

Ireland began their Pool C campaign with a game against Spain in Monchengladbach earlier today. Sarah McAuley converted a penalty corner in the 14th minute to put IRL 1-0 ahead. They led at the end of the first quarter. Spain equalized from a penalty corner converted by Candela Meijas in the 33rd minute. Caitlin Sherin was green carded for Ireland in the 34th minute but there was no further scoring in the quarter and it was 1-1 at half time.

Spain took the lead from a penalty corner by Belén Iglesias in the 38th minute. Spain were temporarily reduced to 10 players when Alejandra Torres-Quevedo was yellow carded in the 49th minute. And Ireland were quick to capitalise as Roisín Upton came to the rescue by grabbing the equalizer from another penalty corner in the 49th minute to make it 2-2.

Spain were back down to 10 players temporarily when Lucia Jiminez was green carded in the 57th minute. Ireland finished the game with 10 players when Ellen Curran was yellow carded in the 59th minute. The game finished 2-2 with both sides getting a point apiece. That point is enough to secure at worst a 6th place finish and securing a place in the 2025 EuroHockey Championship. It should in turn, almost ensure that Ireland will be in that qualification group in January 2024, in either China or Spain.

Next up is Italy, tomorrow Friday Aug 25th 15.00 Ireland time.

SPAIN: Maria Ruiz (GK), Sara Barrios, Julia Strappato, Lucia Jiminez, Maria Lopez, Belén Iglesias, Maelen Garcia, Candela Meijas, Xantal Gine (C), Beatriz Perez, Alejandra Torres-Quevedo
SUBS: Clara Perez(GK) 31 mins, Laura Barrios, Marta Segu, Constanza Amundsen, Clara Ycart, Laia Vidosa, Patricia Alvarez

IRELAND:-Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Sarah McAuley, Elena Neill, Roisín Upton, Sarah Hawkshaw, Charlotte Beggs, Katie McKee, Deirdre Duke, Katie Mullan (C), Niamh Carey, Caitlin Sherin

SUBS: Liz Murphy (GK) 31 mins, Michelle Carey, Caoimhe Perdue, Ellen Curran, Sarah Torrans, Hannah McLoughlin, Naomi Carroll

24 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

International, Media

Images: EuroHockey Championships 2023 Ireland vs Spain

24 August 2023/by Cian Funge

International

EuroHockey ID championships – Ireland Team Secure Bronze

Ireland Team Secure Bronze

Ireland secured a Championship II bronze medal at the The 2023 EuroHockey ID Championships in Mönchengladbach.

The sport is unusual in that women and men train and play in mixed teams, side by side with and for each other. For the first time in 2023 it was a requirement that at least two women must be registered per team and that one woman is always active on the pitch.

On the first day of play, Divisioning Day, the classification games took place. The games played on this day evaluated the level of each player and the whole team with the evaluation included in the overall evaluation with the results of the games. Ireland began with a game against England and it ended in a 3-0 defeat. Next up was a game against Czech Republic which Ireland won 4-0 with goals from Cameron Ward and a hat-trick for Daniel Fortune. Next up were Spain who beat Ireland 4-0 and Ireland finished their first day action with a game against France which they narrowly lost 2-1 with Cameron Ward on the scoresheet for Ireland.

This meant that Ireland would be in Championship II for the second and final day’s action in the tournament. Another game with the French which they won 2-1 and Cameron Ward was once again the goal scorer. Ireland bounced back from this set back with a 6-2 win over the Czechs. Daniel Fortune and Charlie O’Reilly got two goal each with Cameron Ward and captain Matthew Burke grabbing the other goals. That left two games for Ireland to see out the program. England beat Ireland 4-2 with Cameron Ward and Matthew Burke scoring for Ireland and a final game against Germany which the hosts won 7-1, Cameron Burke on the mark for Ireland.

With the other results going as they did Ireland ended up in a play off for bronze against France.

The winning shuttle was scored by Cameron Ward. Ireland won 1-0 in a very closely contested game against France. Conditions were hot but it didn’t stop the fighting spirit of the Irish players who battled to the bitter end. Ireland had previously lost 1-2 to France in the group stages but managed to reverse the result today. Scoring with only a couple of minutes to go Ireland were delighted with their bronze medal. A great team effort.

Team Ireland: Ben Purcell (Monkstown) Goalkeeper, Daniel Fortune (Botanic), Tony Ryan (Wicklow), Niamh Kiernan (Railway), Cameron Ward (Botanic), Matthew Burke (TTR), Joe Whelan (TRR), Ruth Ann Gallagher (Railway), Charlie O’Reilly (Monkstown), Louis Olden (Monkstown), Niamh Kiernan ( Railway) and Matthew Burke (TTR)

Head Coach: Scott Mulligan
Manager: Sharon Hutchinson·
Coach: Klaas de Vries
Coach: Aryana Nieland

23 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

International

Game 3 IRL – 0 GER – 5 Match Report

IRL – 0 GER – 5 Match Report

Ireland took on Germany in their third and final Pool B game this evening at the Euro Hockey Championship in Monchengladbach.

Germany beat England 5-0 in their previous fixture, securing the Pool B title, which left Ireland temporarily in second place in the table ahead of England’s third group game with Scotland on goal difference. A positive result against Germany could theoretically have led to a semi-final berth for the Green Army. England beat Scotland 5-0 however, the situation was going into their match tonight a win by two or more goals and Ireland would secure the semi-final berth. An admittedly tall order given the strength of the hosts but nonetheless a potential target.

Any plans of causing an upset did not last long as Sonja Zimmermann converted a penalty corner after only seven minutes to give Germany a 1-0 lead. Ireland did manage to force a penalty corner without converting it however and it remained 1-0 at the end of quarter one.

Pauline Heinz got a second for Germany from open play in the 23rd minute the second quarter to leave the hosts leading 2-0 at half -time, despite being temporarily reduced to 10 players following a green card for Stine Kurz in the 29th minute.

Ireland had a mountain to climb at the start of quarter three, and were unable to claw back the Germans advantage. It was still 2-0 heading into the final quarter. German captain Nike Lorenz made a comeback unlikely by adding another goal in the 51st minute converting a penalty corner. Germany 3-0 ahead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

It got worse for Ireland because they conceded two further goals within two minutes. Nike Lorenz converted her second penalty corner of the game to make it 4-0 in the 52nd minute and Jette Fleschuz added a fifth from open play a minute later.

A third place finish in Pool B means a visit to Pool C now for Ireland but a 5th or 6th place finish overall would still achieve the objectives from this tournament in Ireland making the Olympic qualification tournament in January, and of course retaining Ireland’s spot in the elite Euro Hockey Championship for the next tournament in 2025.

Final score Ireland 0 Germany 5

IRELAND: Ayeisha McFerran(GK), Sarah McAuley, Elena Neill, Roisín Upton. Katie McKee, Sarah Hawkshaw, Charlotte Beggs, Katie Mullan (C), Caitlin Sherin, Deirdre Duke, Niamh Carey
SUBS: Michelle Carey, Hannah Mc Loughlin, Sarah Torrans, Naomi Carroll, Ellen Curran, Caoimhe Perdue

GERMANY: Julia Sonntag (GK), Kira Horn, Amelie Wortmann, Nike Lorenz (C), Anne Schroeder, Lena Micheel, Charlotte Stapenhorst, Sonja Zimmermann, Cecile Pieper, Viktoria Huse, Hannah Granitzki
SUBS: Selin Oruz, Lisa Nolte, Pauline Heinz, Stine Kurz, Jette Fleschuz, Linnea Weidermann

22 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

International, Media

Images: EuroHockey Championships 2023 Ireland vs Germany

22 August 2023/by Cian Funge

International

Ireland Bounce Back In Style Against Scotland To Collect Three Points.

Sarah Torrans scores her 2nd goal.

IRL – 5 SCO – 0 Match Report

Having been beaten 0-3 in their opening fixture, Ireland looked to bounce back and collect some points in their second Pool B game against Scotland on Saturday. Scotland the lowest ranked team in Pool B, had been beaten 0-4 by Germany in their opening game and were in 4^th place in the table on goal difference as a result.

In an even first quarter Ireland were temporarily reduced to 10 players when Caoimhe Perdue was green carded but Scotland were unable to put their temporary numerical advantage to good use and both sides ended the first quarter scoreless.

Scotland were then reduced temporarily following a 17^th minute green card awarded to Bronwyn Shields. Ireland then scored two goals inside a minute. First up was Hannah McLoughlin who scored from open play in the 19^th minute to give the Green Army a 1-0 lead. A minute later Ellen Curran also from open play grabbed a goal to increase Ireland’s lead to 2-0.

It got even better for the Green Army as a Niamh Carey goal from open play in the 26^th minute meant that Ireland lead 3-0 at the half-time break. Having balanced their goal difference in the first half the question was whether Ireland could kick on in the second half and add to their tally. But Ireland found it difficult to increase their lead despite Scotland finishing the third quarter down to ten players when Elizabeth Watson was yellow carded for 5 minutes keeping her off the field until the start of quarter four.

The score remained 3-0 until late in the fourth quarter when Sarah Torrans scored from open play in the 55th minute to increase the Green Army’s lead to 4-0. Sarah Torrans grabbed her second of the game from open play in the final minute to make the final score 5-0.

Ireland get their first three points of the campaign and those targets of reaching the Olympic Qualification Pool in January next and staying in the elite level of the Euro Hockey Championships are within reach.

IRELAND: Ayeisha McFerran (GK), Sarah McAuley, Roisín Upton, Elena Neill, Sarah Hawkshaw, Katie McKee, Charlotte Beggs, Caitlin Sherin, Katie Mullan, Niamh Carey, Naomi Carroll

SUBS: Michelle Carey, Hannah McLoughlin, Sarah Torrans, Caoimhe Perdue, Ellen Curran, Deirdre Duke

SCOTLAND: Amy Gibson (GK), Jennifer Eadie, Eve Pearson, Amy Costello, Katie Robertson (C), Katie Birch, Charlotte Watson, Elizabeth Wilson, Sarah Jamieson, Jessica Ross, Fiona Burnet

SUBS: Laura Swanson, Sophie Hinds, Ruth Blaikie, Heather McEwan, Millie Steiger, Bronwyn Shields

19 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

International, Media

Images: EuroHockey Championships 2023 Ireland vs Scotland

19 August 2023/by Cian Funge

General

Game 1 – ENG-3 IRL-0 Match Report

Ireland Women concede to England in opening game of EuroHockey Championships

Dublin August 18: Ireland began their Pool B campaign at the EuroHockey Championships in Moenchengladbach taking on old rivals England in their opening fixture.

Conceding a penalty stroke as early as the 8^th minute, Grace Balsdon made no mistake to put England 1-0 ahead. Ireland were reduced to 10 temporarily when Sarah McAuley was green carded in the 11^th minute but they did not capitalize on their numerical advantage.

England increased their lead in the second quarter when Tess Howard scored from open play in the 21^st minute. It was still 2-0 at half time.

Liz Murphy replaced Ayeisha McFerran between the posts for the second half but by the end of quarter three there had been no further scoring. England had been reduced to 10 players temporarily following Lily Walker’s green card in the 42^nd minute. Hannah Martin grabbed a third goal for England from open play in the 48^th minute which was the only goal of the fourth quarter. Goalscorer Tess Howard reduced her team to ten players for the final few minutes of the game was yellow carded. There was no jeopardy involved for England however as they ran out 3-0 winners.

ENGLAND: Sabbie Heesh (GK), Lizzie Neal, Hollie Pearne-Webb (C), Grace Balsdon, Lily Owsley, Flora Peel, Laura Roper, Sophie Hamilton, Hannah Martin, Izzy Petter, Ellie Rayer

SUBS: Olivia Hamilton, Fiona Crackles, Lily Walker, Alex Malzer, Tess Howard, Holly Hunt

IRELAND: Ayeisha Mc Ferran (GK), Sarah McAuley, Roisín Upton, Elena Neill, Naomi Carroll, Charlotte Beggs, Caitlin Sherin, Sarah Torrans, Kathryn Mullan (C), Sarah Hawkshaw, Naomi Carroll, Niamh Carey,

SUBS: Liz Murphy (GK), Deirdre Duke, Michelle Carey, Hannah McLoughlin, Ellen Curran, Caoimhe Perdue, Katie McKee

18 August 2023/by Ireland Hockey

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Archive for month: August, 2023

IRL – 1 ITA – 1 Match Report

Spain – 2 Ireland – 2

Ireland Team Secure Bronze

IRL – 0 GER – 5 Match Report

IRL – 5 SCO – 0 Match Report