Ireland 1 -4 Netherlands (men's hockey)

Ireland took on the Netherlands in the first of three training matches taking place in Alicante, Spain.

Ireland suffered an early set back when Bakker opened the scoring in the first minute from a field goal but the green machine were unlucky not to equalise in the tenth minute when Conor Harte's penalty corner drag flick came off the post. Bakker for the Dutch made it 2-0 in the twentieth minute with another field goal and it was Verga who made it 3-0 just before half time again from open play.

Ireland played better in the second half, with Blakeney reducing the deficit when he scored Ireland's first goal from a counter attack but Klass Vermeulen made the final score 4-1 for the Netherlands in the 61st minute again from open play.

Ireland will play the Netherlands again on Sunday at 2pm Irish Time