Friday, February 13 – Hobart, Australia: A much-improved performance from the Ireland Women’s Hockey Team against Argentina saw Ireland score first, forcing a comeback from Argentina. The side battled until the final whistle, but Argentina held firm to take the points.
Ireland began very brightly, Katie Mullan thinking quickly from an early free hit to throw an aerial to Sarah Torrans in the Argentina circle who had two efforts saved by Mercedes Artola, but Torrans did well to recover the loose ball and win a penalty corner. From the corner Ireland’s Roisin Upton found Michelle Carey whose deflection took the ball past Artola and into the back of the net.
Argentina enjoyed the majority of possession in the phase that followed, but Ireland looked disciplined in their press, giving Argentina no space or time to cause any damage.
Sarah Hawkshaw was called into defensive duties in the closing minutes of the first quarter to make a superb tackle and clear her lines.
Argentina, however, found their equaliser in the final minute of Q1, Las Leonas winning the ball in their own half and breaking. They worked the ball to Maria Granatto who found the back of the net on her reverse stick.
The contest continued into quarter 2 as Ireland looked more than up for the fight. The first opportunity of note came Ireland’s way as Ellen Curran got a touch on a long ball into the Argentine circle to win a penalty corner. Ireland came within inches of getting their second from the corner as Roisin Upton delivered a ball to Sarah Hawkshaw running at the back post, but her deflection went just wide of her near post.
Ireland weather a late period of pressure from Argentina, defending their circle well, but Argentina eventually ended the quarter with a penalty corner having drawn a foul in the Irish circle. The corner broke down but Argentina worked the ball back into the circle and get on effort at goal which Holly Micklem saved well to keep the teams level at the half-time break.
Argentina made a more intense start to that second half than they did the first, creating a scrappy battle in the middle of the pitch as both sides turned the ball over under pressure from their opposite numbers. Argentina drew another foul in the Irish circle to win their second penalty corner of the match, which they converted to take the lead.
Argentina fired two more warning shots across the bow with Julieta Jankunas firing over the bar and almost connecting with a teammate in the circle a few minutes later for Argentina’s third, but Ireland survived to keep it a one score game.
Argentina made a good start to the final quarter, winning a penalty corner with their first possession. Ireland defended the effort well, with Holly Micklem making a crucial save and Hannah McLoughlin winning the contest for the free ball to win a free hit.
Ireland, though, showed no sign of giving up, taking every opportunity that came their way to test the Argentine defence. Ireland enjoyed some good passages inside the Argentine half, the best of which ending in a shot for Sarah Hawkshaw from a tight angle which she could quite make a clean connection on.
With two minutes remaining, Argentina were given a yellow card for repeated breakdowns of play, giving Ireland a player advantage for the time remaining. Ireland withdrew goalkeeper Holly Mickelm to apply further pressure in the dying embers, but Argentina defended their 2-1 lead to take the three points.
Ireland will play their final match of their FIH Hockey Pro League stage in Tasmania when they face host Australia on Sunday, February 15 at 06:30 Irish Time. Watch the match live on Watch.Hockey.