General Report

Ireland halved the SoftCo Internaional Hockey Series with Great Britain in Queen’s University Belfast during St. Patrick’s week 2021, securing a first ever win over the current Olympic Gold Medalists, and drawing another and losing one of the three matches.

Ireland’s Chloe Watkins in action for Ireland versus Great Britain in the SoftCo Series 14t March 2021 – Picture Credit: @INPHO/Bryan Keane [References: 5]

Match 1 – 13 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 1 Great Britain 2

In Ireland’s first home match in 497 days due to the coronavirus outbreak, Upton secured the lead in the first quarter with a penalty stroke after Anna O’Flanagan was brought down inside the circle. Ireland were in fine form, and had many chances, but minutes into the second half Robertson equalised for Great Britain after a move down the left wing was crossed into the circle. Great Britain went in the first minute of the fourth quarter and despite Irish pressure held on for the win.

At Queen’s University Belfast	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Ireland	1	0	0	0	1
Great Britain	0	0	1	1	2

[References: 2]

Quarter	Team	Scorers	Score
1	Ireland	Upton (PS)	1-0
3	Great Britain	Ansley	1-1
4	Great Britain	Robertson	1-2

Match 2 – 14 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 2 Great Britain 1

After a scoreless first quarter, which saw plenty of opportunities for both teams, Great Britain took the lead in the second quarter after Sarah Evans drove the ball across the Ireland goal for Laura Unsworth to stear it past Ireland’s McFerrin. In the third quarter, Ireland equalised through Watkins who hit the backboard after an assist by Colvin. In the Final quarter, high drama saw GB given a second yellow card, after O’Flanagan was taken down inside gthe circle. Upton stepped up again to secure the win with her second penalty stroke in two matches. It was Ireland’s first ever time defeating the Great Britain team, current Olympic Gold Medallists, which captain Katie Mullan said was special to do on home soil.

At Queen’s University Belfast	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Ireland	0	0	1	1	2
Great Britain	0	1	0	0	1

[References: 3]

Quarter	Team	Scorers	Score
2	Great Britain	Laura Unsworth	0-1
3	Ireland	Watkins	1-1
4	Ireland	Upton (PS)	2-1

Match 3 – 16 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 1 Great Britain 1

16 March 2021 – Ireland 1 Great Britain 1 – The day before St. Patrick’s Day Ireland drew with Great Britain in a match littered with penalty corners. After the first three quarters finished fruitless for both sides, R Upton put Ireland ahead after clearing the ball from defense, which Daly converted into a penalty corner. This time, at the second penalty corner of the attack, the ball is stopped on the line under the body of the Great Britain goalie, Hinch. ireland were awarded a penalty stroke, which Upton converted putting Ireland 1-0 up. Great Britain were invigorated by this, seeking an equaliser. With Robertson getting a Green Card, sending GB down to 10 players like Ireland. McCay was intercepted by Petters, after securing possession in the home circle, and Petters who scored on the reverse stick into the corner to level the scores at 1-1. After Watkins gained a yellow card, GB piled on the pressure in the final seconds, but Upton remained calm in defense, denying the GB team the winner.

At Queen’s University Belfast	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Ireland	0	0	0	1	1
Great Britain	0	0	0	1	1

[References: 4]

Quarter	Team	Scorer	Score
4	Ireland	Upton (PS)	1-0
4	Great Britain	Petters	1-1

[References; 4]

Ireland Roster

Ireland	13 March	14 March	16 March
A McFerrin		X	X
Nikki Evans	X	X
Zara Malseed	X		X
R Upton	X – 1 Goal (PS)	X – 1 Goal (PS)	X – 1 Goal (PS)
Katie Mullan	X	X	X
S McCay	X	X	X
L Tice		X	X
B Barr	X	X
Naomi Carroll	X		X
Chloe Watkins		X – 1 Goal	X
Lizzie Colvin		X
H Matthews	X	X
S Torrans	X	X
S Hawkshaw	X	X	X
Anna O’Flanagan	X	X	X
Liz Murphy	X	X
S McAuley	X		X
Michelle Carey	X	X	X
H McLoughlin	X	X
M Fraser	X		X
Grace O’Flanagan	X		X
N Daly			X
H Matthews			X
S Torrans			X
Niamh Carey		X	X
D Duke		X	X

[References: 3]

Results – Ireland v Spain – 6-11 February 2018

Date	Home Team		Away Team
06.02.2018	Spain	7	Ireland	0
08.02.2018	Spain	0	Ireland	2
10.02.2018	Spain	3	Ireland	1
11.02.2018	Spain	2	Ireland	3

[2][3][4][5]

Series Drawn 2-2

Venues

Match	Venue
All Matches	CHP Benalmadena, Spain

[2][3][4][5]

Report

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Ireland v Spain

Ireland gained a two-all draw in the series with a number 11 ranked Spain, who were just off a series of draws with World Number 5 Australia, whereas Ireland had not played a series since November.[3]

6 February 2018: Spain 7 Ireland 0:

Spain nearly went in front after 90 seconds but their goal from the first penalty corner of the match was disallowed after a goal-mouth scramble, Lucia Jiminez, however, put Spain in front after 3 minutes. Ireland had their first chance from a penalty corner of their own but Roisin Upton’s shot went wide. Spain went 2-0 up on ten minutes as Berta Bonastre ran from the baseline into the circle and scored from close range. Ireland put Spain under some pressure late in the first half and Chloe Brown’s shot was saved by the Spanish Goalie.[2]

Berta Bonastre scored her second goal with a stroke high into the right corner to put Spain 3-0 up and they then scored four goals in the fourth quarter to finish 7-0 winners and spoil Naomi Carroll’s 100th Irish cap. Begona Garcia (2), Lola Riera and Maialen Garcia were the scorers.[2]

8 February 2018: Spain 0 Ireland 2

The second game was played at a significantly higher pace and Ireland put Spain under pressure right from the whistle. Deirdre Duke won a penalty corner for Ireland but her shot was saved. The Irish defence kept Spain at bay, and in the 29th minute Ireland were rewarded with a goal from a diving Katie Mullan from a cross-field pass from Gillian Power.[3]

Zoe Wilson and Shirley McCay were threading passes through the Spanish defence in the second half and a penalty stroke from Lena Tice put Ireland 2-0 up. The penalty was awarded after a penalty corner that was stopped on the line by a Spanish body. Spain put Ireland under pressure towards the end as they sought to get back into the match but Ireland’s defence held well to give Ireland a 2-0 victory.[3]

10 February 2018: Spain 3 Ireland 1

Ireland started as they had played in the previous win, with Sarah Torrans causing trouble for the Spanish defence from the start, a pass to Katie Mullan saw a shot sail just over the crossbar. Torrans drew an excellent save herself and the rebound from Gillian Pinder was cleared as well. Just before half-time Ireland were rewarded as Anna O’Flanagan sent a cross into the circle for Aisling Naughton to put Ireland 1-0 up.[4]

The Irish were defence was caught unaware for the Spanish equaliser as an out-of-place defence was punished by a Marta Segu goal in the 33rd minute. Ireland responded with a reverse shot from O’Flanagan that went just wide of the post, and forced another save minutes later. Spain, however, got two goals in five minutes to seal the match, Alicia Magaz and Marta Segu the scorers.[4]

11 February 2018: Spain 2 Ireland 3

Anna O’Flanagan won a penalty corner in the opening minutes as Ireland started the brighter, however, Zoe wilson’s strike from the top of the circle flew just over the crossbar. From there on Spain seized momentum, and in the 9th minute Carmen Cano gave them the lead. A second goal from Lola Riera from a goalmouth scramble saw Spain take control, forcing two more saves in quick succession. Ireland finished the half the stronger as Lena Tice’s shot ricocheted off the post.[5]

Ireland started the second half as they finished the first with two shots coming off the post and crossbar. Anna O’ Flanagan then scored from the penalty spot to put Ireland back in the game, and Deirdre Duke forced a fine save. Katie Mullan made a vitall interception and a one-two with Ellen curran caught the Spanish defence napping, and Mullan put a reverse shot into the corner for an equaliser. Anna O’Flanagan then won it for Ireland from a penalty corner with a deflection of Shirley MCCay’s shot. The come-from-behind victory left the series tied two wins apiece.[5]

Players and Scorers

Ireland women’s Hockey Team v Spain 2018 [References: 4]

Ireland Squad [2][3][4][5]

Date	Ireland Squad (Goals)
06.02.2018	Starters: G O’ Flanagan, Z Wilson, L Tice, S McCay, L Colvin, R Upton, G Pinder, K Mullan, N Carroll, N Evans, K Lloyd. Subs: C Cassin, H Matthews, Y O’Byrne, A Meeke, E Beatty, C Brown, D Duke.
08.02.2018	Starters: G O’ Flanagan, H Matthews, L McGuire, L Tice(1), R Upton, Z Wilson, G Pinder, K Mullan (C)(1), D Duke, A Naughton, S Torrans. Subs: E Buckley, Y O’Byrne, S McCay, L Colvin, R Barry, N Evans, E Russell.
10.02.2018	Starters: E Buckley, Y O’Byrne, N Evans, K Mullan, S MCCay, E Tice, G Pinder, R Upton, S Torrans, A O’Flanagan (C), Z Wilson. Subs: C Cassin, A Naughton (1), N Carroll, L Colvin, H Matthews, R Barry, L McGuire.
11.02.2018	Starters: G O’ Flanagan, A Naughton, N Evans, K Mullan (C)(1), E Tice, G Pinder, L Colvin, H Matthews, A O’Flanagan (2), Z Wilson, E Curran. Subs: E Buckley, Y O’Byrne, S McCay, S Torrans, D Duke, A Meeke, L MCGuire.

References

___________________________________________________________________________

Websites

[1] Hockey Ireland (2017) Hockey Ireland Logo [Internet] Available from: http://sportlomo-userupload.s3.amazonaws.com/user_data/modules/player_profiles2/8089/36Ggv3vHPUGom7VCRnL57YR8.jpeg [Accessed 29 May 2017]

[2] Hockey Ireland (2017) Spain Seal Victory In Opening Fixture of Series [Internet] Available from: http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10034986/ [Accessed 14 February 2018]

[3] Hockey Ireland (2017) Green Army Earn 2-0 Victory Over Spain [Internet] Available from: http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10035100/ [Accessed 14 February 2018]

[4] Hockey Ireland (2017) Spain Edge Encounter With Green Army [Internet] Available from: http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10035166/ [Accessed 14 February 2018]

[5] Hockey Ireland (2017) Green Army Beat Spain To Split The Series [Internet] Available from: http://www.hockey.ie/news-detail/10035182/ [Accessed 14 February 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Margaret Williams and Irene Carroll (UCD)

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 28 July 2019

Eirball.Hockey – Irish Field Hockey

Irish Field Hockey Archive

Category: FIH International Series

Federation of International Hockey Ireland Women’s SoftCo International Series v Great Britain 2021

Results

General Report

Match 1 – 13 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 1 Great Britain 2

Match 2 – 14 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 2 Great Britain 1

Match 3 – 16 March 2021 – Queen’s University Belfast – Ireland 1 Great Britain 1

Ireland Roster

References

Images

Websites

Images

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Federation of International Hockey | International Series Women 2018

Results – Ireland v Spain – 6-11 February 2018

Venues

Report

Ireland v Spain

Players and Scorers

Ireland Squad [2][3][4][5]

References

Websites

Acknowledgements

About this document