Ireland Lose To Belgium 2-1 & Will Face Australia In 1/4 Final

The final pool match of World League saw Ireland, ranked 14th in the world, put in a massive defensive performance against world number 4 Belgium but come up just short in a 2-1 defeat. The Belgians enjoyed 67% of possession throughout the match and entered the circle over 30 times, however the winning goal only came in the final 2 minutes.

Conor Harte, a stalwart of the Irish defence, was injured in the opening exchanges of the match and helped off the pitch by medics with a suspected dislocated shoulder. The Irish defence absorbed a lot of pressure but the opening goal came from a well-worked Belgian penalty corner. Moments later though, Stephen Dowds won a PC for the Green Machine which, drag flick specialist, Shane O’Donoghue dispatched past the goalkeeper to level the match at 1-1.

Irish discipline was called into question when 3 players were issued with cards, 2 yellow and 1 green, in a short space of time meaning it was 11 vs 8 for a period. The Belgian dominance rarely let up but David Harte, Ireland’s goalkeeper, made several important saves and the Green Machine regained composure despite decisions not going their way.

With 2 minutes left in the match Coach Craig Fulton made the decision to take Harte off and put Jonathan Bell on as the extra man. The decision didn’t pay off unfortunately and the Belgians scored on the counter attack, making the final score 2-1.

Ireland will play Australia, ranked 1 in the world, in the quarter final on Wednesday July 1st at midday and the match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1.  

Starting: Harte, Jackson, Gormley, Watt, Cargo, Sothern, Caruth, O’Donoghue, Darling, Gleghorne,Harte.

Bench: Bell, Dowds, Magee, Shimmins, Carlisle, Good, Fitzgerald.