IRELAND 2 – 8 GERMANY
FIH Pro League
Bhubaneswar, February 24: Current World Champions Germany showed their quality to push past Ireland in their first of two encounters in the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar. Two goals from open play in the first quarter gave Germany a commanding lead early on, before Matthew Nelson halved the deficit in Q2. Germany responded, scoring their third soon after but again Ireland responded, with Ben Walker winning a penalty stroke which was converted by Peter McKibbin. However, Germany showed their quality in the second half, limiting Ireland’s chances and netting a further four times from set pieces and open play to secure a comfortable victory.
Germany started strongly going 1-0 up thanks to a 7th minute penalty corner from Thies Prinz. Thomas Struthof soon after, firing low into the bottom corner on his reverse to make it 2-0 in the first quarter.
Ireland’s Matthew Nelson got on the end of a well worked move to half the deficit, but Germany responded immediately, rattling the stanchion to restore the two-goal cushion. But Ireland made a quick counter, Ben Walker drawing the foul in the circle to win a penalty stroke that Peter McKibbin converted, to net his first goal of his Ireland career.
Germany would provide the final action of the first half, restoring their two-goal lead with Raphael Hartkopf slapping the ball first time past Luke Roleston in net.
Ireland continued to play positively, testing German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg on a number of occassion. However, Germany would prove the more clinical side, netting twice in both the third and fourth quarter to see out a dominant performance.
Speaking after the game Head Coach Mark Tumilty said:
“Difficult day for the team. Collectively and individually we did not play to the standards required at this level. We must recognise the importance of technical and physical ability at this level if we want to be competitive. We need to refocus and fully concentrate on producing a better performance tomorrow”
Ireland will play Germany again in their final FIH Pro League match in India, with the game set to take place at 09:30 Irish time tomorrow, February 25, in Kalinga Stadium. The game will be available to watch live on the TG4 Player.
GERMANY: Jean-Paul Dannenberg (GK); Raphael Hartkopf; Thies Prinz; Benedikt Schwarzhaupt; Johannes Grosse; Teo Hinrichs; Gonzalo Peillat; Michael Struthof; Hannes Mueller (C); Malte Hellwig; Moritz Ludwig.
SUBS USED: Hugo Von Monteglas [3 mins]; Niklas Bosserhoff [3 mins]; Elan Manzkour [4 mins]; Linus Mueller [5 mins]; Paul-Philipp Kaufmann [5 mins] Henrik Mertgens [5 mins].
IRELAND: Luke Roleston (GK); Luke Witherow; Kyle Marshall (C); Peter McKibbin; Ben Walker; Jonathan Lynch; Peter Brown; Ben Nelson; Ben Johnson; Nicholas Page; Greg Williams.
SUB USED: Daragh Walsh [3 mins]; Matthew Nelson [4 mins]; Kevin O’ Dea [4 mins]; Ben Ryder [4 mins]; Conor Empey [5 mins]; Adam Walker [7 mins]; Jamie Carr (GK) [31 mins]