IRELAND 4 – 1 AUSTRALIA
Sunday, February 15 – Hobart, Australia: The Ireland Women’s Hockey Team picked up an historic first FIH Hockey Pro League victory over Australia in Hobart to close out their second stage of the competition. Having gone a goal behind Ireland fought back to record a comprehensive win, with Ellen Curran, Katie Mullan, Sarah Hawkshaw and Hannah McLoughlin all on the scoresheet, while Roisin Upton picked up the Player of the Match award for an imperious defensive performance.
A less-than-ideal start for Ireland saw Australia take an early lead in Hobart, squeezing the ball into the net from a tight angle to open the scoring. Ireland, however, almost responded in the perfect way, going up the other end almost immediately when Katie Mullan found Michelle Carey whose effort on goal was saved by Zoe Newman.
Ireland continued to put the pressure on, working the ball forward to Sarah Torrans who just couldn’t make clean contact on a first-time effort at goal, much to the relief of Australia.
Quick thinking from Ireland won them a penalty corner, that Caoimhe Perdue flicked at goal, but her effort was saved on the line. Ireland ended the opening quarter by testing Newman once more, but she was alive to Christina Hamill’s close-range effort and Australia held onto their one goal lead.
Ireland carried their positive play into the second quarter with a perfect interchange out of the back ending in Sarah Torrans deflecting the ball onto an Australian foot inside the circle for a penalty corner. Hannah McLoughlin’s slap on goal took a deflection from Ellen Curran to find the back of the net and level the scoring.
Two green cards in quick succession for Australia gave Ireland an opportunity to try and make use of their extra outfield players, which Ireland used to find Sarah Hawkshaw free on the baseline who pulled the ball back to Katie Mullan to touch into the net.
Ireland carried their momentum into the early phases of the second of the second half, winning a penalty corner. They opted for another penalty corner, going back to injector Sarah Torrans who delivered the ball to Sarah Hawkshaw on a plan to tap in.
Ireland almost had a fourth a moment later when Katie Mullan’s delivery into the circle found a stick and pinged off the crossbar.
Ireland had to weather a late period of pressure from the Hockeyroos, with Elizabeth Murphy required in the Irish net, and a second effort from Australia going wide of the post just a few minutes later, but Ireland held out to maintain their lead.
The battle showed no signs of letting up as both sides threw everything at each other. Ireland still looked the livelier as Jessica McMaster broke quickly up the pitch, found an inch of space in the circle and fired across goal. The deflection fell to Niamh Carey who was denied by a good save from Zoe Newman.
A rare penalty corner for Australia offered them a lifeline. The Hockeyroos thought they had pulled a goal back after scoring from the penalty corner, but Ireland used their video referral, and the goal was overturned for a foot in the build-up.
A penalty corner for a cynical tackle on Michelle Carey with five minutes remaining gave Ireland a chance to grab a fourth and seal the game, which they gladly took as Hannah McLoughlin slapped into the back of the net.
Ireland’s focus will now turn to their upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Santiago Chile taking place from March 1 – 8. The IRL Women have been drawn in Pool B and will begin their bid for qualification with a matchup against Malaysia (#22) on Monday, March 2nd at 18:15 Irish Time. The sides haven’t met since 2019, where Ireland beat Malaysia 2-1 in Banbridge during their FIH Women’s Series campaign. Japan (#11) will be the IRL Women’s second game, taking place the following day at 18:45 Irish Time, and will likely be the side’s biggest test given they are the top ranked team in their pool. Ireland will complete their Pool Stage campaign with a matchup against Canada (#21) on Thursday, March 5 at 18:15 Irish Time, with the sides meeting for the first time since Ireland’s historic penalty shootout win in Dublin in 2019 that secured a first ever Olympic place for the Women’s squad.
The team could face Australia (#6), Chile (#15), France (#17), or Switzerland (#40) in the Semi-Finals should they advance.
