WOMEN'S EUROHOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP: Ireland 1 England 3:DESPITE A third comprehensive loss, Irish coach Gene Muller took positives from a combative first-half showing against Pool A toppers England in Monchengladbach before his side were over-run.
Three goals in 11 second-half minutes turned a midway lead into a 3-1 loss but, with Ireland already looking toward the relegation pool, the tie was academic with the coach solely hoping to gain some semblance of form.
Harrowing 3-0 defeats to Germany and Belgium had left a sour taste but Niamh Small’s opening goal helped lift some of the gloom.
“The outcome was of less consequence of finding some rhythm and flow so after the match I was happy. We were more comfortable in possession,” Muller said of the performance.
“We weren’t on the back foot from the beginning and that was a good thing for us. I was disappointed for us to concede in quick succession but overall, I’m fairly happy going into the last two games.”
Ireland had conceded inside the first five minutes of both prior games and were almost behind when they coughed up a penalty corner 40 seconds into this tie.
Stand-in goalkeeper Pamela Smithwick stood tall to deny Kate Walsh’s flick and Ireland responded well to earn a set-piece of their own from the ensuing break-out.
England, as befitting their role as Olympic medal contenders, did control play but it was a sluggish and indecisive performance.
Against the run of play, Small pounced three minutes before the break, reacting sharply to mop up the scraps created by Emma Smyth’s superb reverse-stick effort.
Shirley McCay’s back-hand shot also went close, leaving England reeling. They showed far greater intent on the resumption. Hannah Macleod provided the simplest of finishes to Christa Cullen’s straight ball for a 40th minute equaliser and Helen Richardson made it 2-1 three minutes later.
Her run teed up Alex Danson and while her backhand shot was charged down by Pamela Smithwick, making her first appearance of the tournament, Richardson cleaned up the rebound.
Anne Panter touched home a simple corner and the tie was effectively done with 16 minutes remaining.
Tomorrow, Ireland begin their campaign to avoid a first ever drop to the B Division of European championship hockey, needing to beat both Azerbaijan and Italy to do so.
IRELAND:P Smithwick, C Sargent, E Clarke, A Speers, S McCay, L Jacob, N Small, S McCarthy, N Symmons, A O'Flynn, L Colvin Subs: M Harvey, M Crowley, E Smyth, J O'Halloran, C Watkins.
ENGLAND:M Hinch, L Unsworth, C Cullen, H Richardson, N Seymour, K Walsh, C Rogers, A Danson, G Twigg, S Walton, S Townsend Subs: H Macleod, A Panter, K Williams, R Herbert, A Ball .
