Ireland’s EuroHockey hopes dashed by loss to France

Ireland are reliant on the Netherlands beating Germany on Monday night to keep their hopes of progression alive

Ireland’s hopes of reaching the EuroHockey semi-finals for the first time are in tatters after a shocking 1-0 defeat by France in Monchengladbach.

The only goal of the game came early in the fourth quarter from a penalty corner as Mathilde Duffrene’s shot beat Ireland goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy.

Ireland had plenty of possession and opportunities, as well as hitting a couple of posts, but lost the initiative as the game wore on.

Ireland will now need a two-goal win over hosts Germany on Wednesday night to make the last four, assuming France get nothing from their final game with the Netherlands.

This comes after the Dutch beat Germany 5-1.

Ireland dominated the first quarter but could not find the opening score.

Katie Mullan had an early opportunity but hit the post and then could not control the rebound as it flew over the bar. There then came a flurry of penalty corners in a row, five in all for Ireland.

Christina Hamill saw her effort hit the post and Niamh Carey's deflection went wide.

France sounded a warning to Ireland early in the second quarter when they had a goal disallowed from a short corner as the ball was lifted into the net above the height of the backboard.

Both sides then struggled in the heat to create any meaningful circle penetrations before half-time.

Ireland started the second half with attacking intent and Hannah McLoughlin saw two strikes at goal saved by Lucie Ehrmann.

However, the French were growing in confidence and Lizzie Murphy had to make a point blank save from Gabrielle Verrier to keep the game scoreless.

The longer the game wore on the more panic there was in Ireland’s play.

They would pay the price when Duffrene’s effort from a penalty corner found its way into the back of the Irish net with ten minutes remaining.

Ireland had thirteen penalty corners in the game but could not convert

"We had enough chances to win the game early on, and we tried to stay steady throughout the four quarters," said Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw.

"Even in the last quarter we had multiple chances that we could have put it away, but they sat so defensively and then once they got the goal on it made it more difficult.

"We knew penalty corner attack would be important and we had enough of them to slot it away as well, so yeah, very disappointed in that end, but we'll have to put it to bed. The moment's over and we'll look at the next one."

Ireland had thirteen penalty corners in the game and couldn’t convert and at this level that simply isn’t good enough.

Now they must pick themselves up for a final pool game against Germany on Wednesday night, no matter where they find themselves in the tournament.

"We know how up and down it can be, but we try to maintain quite a steady mood in camp and that's really important," added Hawkshaw.

"We'll obviously take our learnings from this game, but we have a good sense of where we are, a sense in international hockey, and we need to remember that and not let moments like this bring us down.

"So yeah, as I said, the moment's over, we need to quickly be disappointed, look at what we need to fix and go into Germany."