Pro League: Ireland suffer heavy Pro League defeat as they lose 7-0 to Spain

Ireland's Shane O'Donoghue in Pro League action

Ireland suffered their heaviest defeat of the Pro League so far as they went down 7-0 to Spain in Rourkela, India.

Alvaro Iglesias led the Spanish scoring with a hat-trick, with Jose Basterra, Eduard de Ignacio-Simo, Borja Lacalle and Marc Reyne also finding the back of the Irish net.

It is Ireland's seventh defeat of the opening round of games in the competition.

They'll complete this phase of matches with a game against India on Sunday.

"I thought we started the game well and created chances. Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalise on any of those," said Irish coach Mark Tumilty when reflecting on the game.

"Spain were very clinical in the first half and our second-half performance was very disappointing. Individual errors and ill discipline was punished in a ruthless manner by Spain.

"It will be a real test of character for the group against India tomorrow."

The first quarter was a reflection on Ireland's Pro League campaign so far. They were awarded the first penalty corner with a chance to take the lead, but Shane O'Donoghue's shot was saved by Spanish goalkeeper Luis Calzado.

Seconds later, a mistake in the Irish defence saw Basterra's snapshot beat Jamie Carr and once again Tumilty's side were chasing the game.

Ireland's stout defence has been one of the positives of the competition but failure to pick up Spanish attackers in the circle saw them breached again when Iglesias was left alone to deflect the ball past Carr.

Ireland enjoyed more possession in the second quarter. The impressive Peter Brown was denied by Calzado and O'Donoghue should have done better with a second opportunity at a penalty corner but, again, his effort was straight at the Spanish goalkeeper.

Any hopes of a second-half comeback for Ireland were extinguished almost immediately as Iglesias reacted quickest to tap in at the near post for his second goal of the game just over a minute after the restart.

Ireland began to look tired and another uncharacteristic mistake in their circle allowed De Ignacio-Simo to produce a delightful finish on the reverse stick.

Spain weren't about to play out the final quarter and they added to Ireland's misery with three more goals.

Lacalle knocked in a rebound after Ben Walker had cleared a penalty corner off the line.

Iglesias punished more slack Irish defending by hammering his third goal into the top corner and Reyne's deft touch to a long ball into the circle rounded off the scoring.