Thursday, February 11 – Hobart, Australia: The Ireland Women’s Hockey Team put in an exceptional performance to secure a point away to hosts Australia in the FIH Hockey Pro League in Hobart Tasmania. Ireland were the dominant side throughout the tie, with intense pressing and unrelenting work rate forcing Australia into uncomfortable positions and providing Ireland chances at goal, but the team had to settle for the draw as they add vital additional points to their tally.
A physical start for both sides saw Ireland and Australia size each other up from the off. Ireland produced the best opportunity of the opening phase, working the ball well down the left with some superb close quarter connections, giving Niamh Carey the opportunity to play an inviting ball across the face of goal which just evaded Sarah Torrans on the back post.
Ireland continued to look lively going forward with Michelle Carey and Mikayla Power both adding attacking spark, but the Australian backline remained resolute to deny the IRL Women clear efforts at goal.
Ireland continued to battle into the second quarter, deploying their press well to force Australia into wide positions. A number of well worked passages of play gave Ireland routes into the Australian circle, the best of which ending in Mikayla Power playing the ball across the circle, again evading the Irish attackers by the narrowest of margins.
Jessica McMaster won Ireland the first penalty corner of the match, which saw Hannah McLoughlin slap towards the back post in search of a deflection, but the deliver went wide of the post.
The sides went into the break locked at 0-0.
Ireland remained lively in the second half, looking the more dangerous and intentional of the two sides. A rare attacking opportunity for Australia called Elizabeth Murphy into action to make a smart double-save.
Ireland almost had their opener, when a long ball found captain Sarah Hawkshaw free on the edge of the circle. Her shot at goal found Jessica McMaster whose deflection took the ball away from Hockeyroos goalkeeper Aleisha Power but just wide of the near post.
A minute into the final quarter, Australia forced Ireland into a rare error, winning a penalty corner, but Sarah Torrans was on hand to do what she does best and charge down the effort.
Ireland responded, regaining their control over the tie, again using those close quarter passes to work the ball into the attacking quarter ending with a penalty corner won by Sarah Hawkshaw. McLoughlan was once again the desired option, with her effort at goal saved by replacement keeper Zoe Newman. Newman denied Ireland again immediately after when Mikayla Power’s effort deflected up for Sarah Hawkshaw to volley at goal, which Newman blocked.
A late yellow card for Ellen Curran forced Ireland to see out the final minutes with a player down, a disadvantage that almost ended in a goal for Australia but Ireland were awarded a free hit for a foot, and breathed a sigh of relief.
In the dying seconds Australia had a final break, forcing a superb stop again from Elizabeth Murphy in the Irish net to secure Ireland a point and force a shoot-out.
Australia came out on top in the shootout, but not without another exceptional fight from Ireland. Having gone 3-0 down, Hannah McLoughlin kept her cool to bring it to 3-1 before Holly Micklem saved and Jessica McMaster scored take it to 3-2. With their final shootout, Australia converted to take the bonus point.
Ireland will play their penultimate FIH Hockey Pro League outing in Hobart tomorrow, February 13, when they face Argentina for the second time at 08:30 Irish time. Watch the match live on Watch.Hockey.