Irish struggle as the rain in Spain spoils good start
IRELAND fell to a single goal defeat to hosts Spain in their second game in the Four Nations tournament being staged in Valencia ahead of next month’s World Cup finals.
Alexander Cox’s lads had beaten England 2-1 in their opening game but yesterday they found it difficult to get the ball past Spain’s top-class goalkeeper Quico Cortes and lost to a penalty stroke in the final quarter.
Cox rested Shane O’Donoghue and Stuart Loughrey and brought in Ulster trio Matthew Bell, Michael Robson and Paul Gleghorne, who had missed the first game as they had played twice for their German club Crefeld over the weekend.
Conditions were wet in Valencia and the first half was scoreless, with the only notable action from the Irish seeing Robson and Eugene Magee combine well and also Bell and Mitch Darling cause some problems up the right flank.
The third quarter was also tightly fought and again remained scoreless, although Lee Cole and Darling worked a good move which Cortes saved.
But Spain got the breakthrough in the final quarter when Conor Harte conceded a penalty stroke and the prolific Xavi Lleonart converted.
The Irish finished the stronger but were unable to find the equaliser despite two penalty corner awards.
Netherlands won the other game 2-1 yesterday and it saw three Ulstermen line out for England — Ian Sloan, David Ames and Mark Gleghorne.
Today is rest day and then the Irish complete the round-robin phase tomorrow when they take on Netherlands (3.30pm).
Meanwhile there is a curtailed EY Irish Hockey League programme on Saturday due to players being away with the international team.
Those hit are Lisnagarvey’s home clash with Monkstown and the Dublin derby between Pembroke Wanderers and Three Rock Rovers, while Banbridge’s game at Annadale was brought forward a fortnight ago.
That just leaves Cookstown’s lengthy trip to Cork C of I and Glenanne’s short trip to YMCA.
“Cork will be going all guns blazing to beat us and we’ll have to meet that and then see if we can stamp our own mark on the game,” said Cookstown captain Greg Allen.
Also making the trip to Cork are Kilkeel in the IHL’s second tier, and they too know that they
Star man: Ulster’s Matthew Bell was a tower of strength in defence for Ireland against Spain
must get a positive result against UCC, particularly after their earlier defeat to Corinthian.
It’s Instonians out to stop the Corinthian march, which is isn’t an easy task at their Dublin base, while Bangor aim to build on their success over Bandon when they take on Railway at Aurora.
There are just three Ulster Premier League games, due to the IHL 2, and unbeaten Mossley are hoping to close in on the leaders when they make the trip to Raphoe.
Belfast Harlequins and Civil Service meet head-on determined to chalk up their first league win of the season, while there’s an intriguing clash at Newry where North Down are the visitors.