Defeat far from end of the World
Ireland turn attention to quarter-final
THE stakes were undeniable for England last night but all Ireland needed was to produce an injury-free, confidenceboosting performance in their dazzling World Cup run.
In the end, a dominant display by the World Cup hosts at a breezy Olympic Park put paid to Ireland’s bid to record an unprecedented third straight victory as a late penalty corner strike by Giselle Ansley saw England edge past the Green Army.
England had to avoid defeat, while the result didn’t matter for Graham Shaw’s charges. But at least Ireland now know their quarter-final opponents on Thursday: either India or Italy, who clash in a play-off match tomorrow.
Ireland were forced to defend resolutely throughout this gritty performance. In all, the hosts plundered 39 circle entries to Ireland’s nine, England offering 31 shots to Ireland’s four.
So it was little wonder that Shaw hailed the 60 minutes as ‘an incredible shift’.
‘We wouldn’t want to sit that deep all the time,’ admitted Shaw. ‘There are going to be times against a team of that quality where you stay compact and organised.
‘I thought the intensity they played the game at, when we needed that little bit of quality on the ball, we were just a little bit tired at times.’
Prior to this current run, Ireland had never won back-to-back ties at a World Cup in their four attempts going back to 1986.
Ranked second lowest of the 16 competing teams in London, the Irish squad admitted to being surprised at having already won the group. But their underdog tag had propelled them to two wins over higher-ranking nations USA and India.
A third victory would have sent Shaw’s side into a frenzy. Yet England were in no mood to be denied, even though Anna O’Flanagan, who plays club hockey in the Dutch top flight, was on the cusp of equalling Ireland’s record goals tally — 65 — held by Lynsey McVicker.
But O’Flanagan couldn’t make any impact in the first half last night as England shut out any Ireland forays up field.
The hosts, meanwhile, were making hay. They came close to opening the scoring when Shirley McCay produced a diving stop near the line, while England defender Hollie Pearne-Webb swept one of the hosts’ four firsthalf penalty corners just wide.
As it stood, a draw was enough for England. And Ireland nearly gifted them a needless goal when Zoe Wilson lost the ball one metre out from their line, but Sarah Haycroft couldn’t lift over goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran.
Megan Frazer’s fizzing shot across goal then started an Irish onslaught, with three successive penalty corners. It also handed the Green Army their best opportunity with Maddie Hinch saving well with her boot on the third.
The second half saw Ireland’s defence further tested. England mustered nine penalty corners as they bore down on McFerran’s goal. Each time, the England flickers offered a weak shot or the Irish defence stood strong with their block running.
Shaw even had the luxury of resting Frazer, a key figure for Ireland after returning from two years out of the game following three knee surgeries.
Yet the more game time she plays, the more pivotal she will become to Ireland’s hopes of progressing. And with Italy and India standing in their way of a potential World Cup semi-final, Shaw said that their battling ability against England will only help.
He added: ‘This is all new to us. To play in front of that big crowd in a World Cup against a host nation is something we dream about. They reacted brilliantly and I can’t be prouder of the girls.’