Dutch run amok to end dream
IRELAND midfielder Nicci Daly, a motor racing data engineer by trade, knows all about speed on four wheels. But she and her gallant teammates experienced a full Oranje barrage yesterday as Ireland’s World Cup dream ended, somewhat predictably, to defending champions the Netherlands.
Captain Katie Mullan said on the eve of the final that her team would ‘grab the bull by the horns’.
Belief was palpable for Graham Shaw’s side.
And after dealing with almost an hour of relentless Dutch attacking and one-touch passing brilliance — all achieved with precision and at pace — at least the smiles returned as they were cheered and applauded by a 10,000 sell out crowd.
All 11 players on the pitch when the hooter sounded fell to their knees. But it was Mullan, still only 24, who stirred first and went over to each of her players to offer a congratulatory hug.
This was not a day for tears of dejection.
Ireland played Holland twice previously, both times losing out 6-0, in 2002 and 2013. Yet the Green Army started as if to turn world sport on its head once again after a wondrous fortnight here.
These were five minutes of early optimism, Ireland determined to atone for the news of Megan Frazer’s pre-match hamstring problem which ruled her out of the final.
Meanwhile, Emily Beatty, at the end of a Spanish holiday, had her bag packed full of green colours and was set to join the crowd. But Irish officials scuppered that idea. She was now Frazer’s replacement in the final.
Beatty would have been in no doubt of Ireland’s momentum in those opening salvos, they just couldn’t find an incisive way into the Dutch circle.
So it was left to Holland to deliver as Lidewij Welten had enough venom on her scuffed shot to find a way past an unsighted Ayeisha McFerran.
It was Welten’s fifth goal and her country’s 30th of the World Cup, The strike opened the floodgates for outright Dutch control. Whenever Ireland did retain possession, three Oranje sticks seemed to be on hand.
A second goal seemed inevitable. With McFerran seeing increasingly more action, she was forced into a boot save before the rebound fell kindly to Kelly Jonker. Her backhand shot was struck sweetly to the backboard.
Four goals in six minutes either side of the break left Ireland’s players, most of whom had taken extra holiday to train together for the last six weeks, unable to live with the Dutch system.
Ireland’s run to yesterday’s final was based on strong work ethic and a squad billed as ‘best friends’. Over the last two weeks, the funloving McFerran has led a strong defensive unit which has been key to outwitting higher-ranked opponents.
Before the final, the 22-year-old US college student had only leaked three goals, coupled with her two epic shoot-out wins. At least there was respite for McFerran after she was awarded goalkeeper of the tournament.
Earlier, part-timers Spain, beaten by Ireland in the semi-final on Saturday, won a first ever bronze medal courtesy of a fine 3-1 victory over Australia.
This was the underdogs’ tournament, topped with an outstanding performance by hockey’s dominant force. And Ireland now belong among the elite.
Some of the squad will now come out of their ‘bubble’ and switch on social media. The players will simply not know what’s hit them when they arrive back in Dublin this afternoon.