IRELAND 1 – 6 AUSTRALIA
Wednesday, June 18 – Antwerp: The current FIH Pro League title holders and World ranked #5 Australia managed to unpick a changed Ireland side in their second encounter in Antwerp. After the sides went into the quarter one break locked at 1-1, with Ireland’s Lee Cole scoring from a penalty corner, Australia pushed on scoring five unanswered goals to storm to a seventh FIH Pro League win.
Ireland got the game underway as the sun beamed down on the pitch in Antwerp. An early penalty corner after just over one minute gave Australia the chance to pick up from where they left off in the teams’ previous tie. A fine save from Kyle Marshall off the line denied the Kookaburras before the ball glanced an Irish foot, resulting in a second penalty corner. Ireland defended the second effort well to keep the game scoreless.
A green card for Australia’s Davis Atkin for a challenge on Johnny McKee gave Ireland a player advantage which they used well to win their first penalty corner. Lee Cole’s effort for the corner was saved.
A break from Australia ended with a penalty corner, Jeremy Hayward’s effort saved by Peter McKibbin on the line, but Nathan Ephraums was quickest to the rebound to sneak the ball under Jaime Carr and break the deadlock in the 11th minute.
A positive start to the second quarter from Ireland saw them move the ball well into the circle for Jeremy Duncan to win a penalty corner, with Cole’s effort again testing Australian goalkeeper Ashleigh Thomas. Fergus Gibson won another penalty corner for Ireland after beating his opposite player into the circle, with Cole flicking powerfully into the net to draw Ireland level.
But Australia would respond, throwing an aerial into the Irish circle, with Ireland’s Sam Hyland encroaching, resulting in a penalty corner for Australia. Jeremy Hayward restored the Kookaburra’s lead from the set piece. Nathan Ephraums extended Australia’s lead one minute later, capitalising on a rebounding ball in the Irish circle to slap into the roof of the net.
Australia continued to apply the pressure in the closing phases of the first half, but Ireland defended well to keep the score at 3-1 in Australia’s favour.
Knowing they needed to respond quickly, Ireland stepped their intensity up, winning a penalty corner after two minutes. A miss-trap at the top of the circle meant Australia escaped unscathed.
Australia mounted attacks of their own, the best of which resulting in a controversial penalty corner, which Jaime Carr batted away. A defensive error as Ireland tried to play the ball out of the back soon after gives Australia a chance at a shot on goal, which Craig Marais fired into the top corner.
A yellow card for Jonny Lynch for a collision in the middle of the park gave Australia a five-minute player advantage, which they immediately used to add a fifth through Davis Atkin. Ireland tried to reduce the deficit in the final phases of the third quarter. Ben Walker came closest, reacting first to a save from a Ben Nelson shot to volley the ball off the cross bar.
Fewer chances came for either side in the final quarter as the Belgian heat took the pace out of the game. Australia did eventually score their sixth, capitalizing on an Irish attack to counter and score through Ky Willott. A late penalty corner for Ireland with 30 seconds on the clock offered the team a chance at a consolation, with Mark McNellis’ effort and Jeremy Duncan’s follow up saved.
Australia came away as 6-1 victors and move to second spot on the current FIH Pro League table as they look to chase down leaders The Netherlands.
Speaking after the game Ireland captain Kyle Marshall said:
“We let ourselves down playing with 10-players for large parts. A couple of green and yellow cards that we have to be disappointed with ourselves for receiving. We know that teams will hurt you when you are playing with one less player.
We definitely applied ourselves well during those periods, but the longer you are in those periods the more you are open to conceding goals, and little mistakes compound.”
Ireland will play their final two FIH Pro League matches for Season 2024/25 against Spain on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday June 22 at 09:30 Irish Time. Both games will be available to watch live on the TG4 player.