The European Masters Championships for Men and Women over 45s and 50s took place over the past 10 days in Valencia, Spain, with all the finals held on Sunday, June 1st. Ireland’s Over 45 Men’s and Women’s teams both reached their respective gold medal matches, with the women emerging as European Champions. Meanwhile, the Women’s Over 50s claimed bronze, and the Men’s Over 50s finished sixth after a hard-fought campaign.
WOMEN OVER 45s
Ireland began their Pool A journey with a 5-0 win over Australian Spirit first game and Victoria Jones scored from a penalty corner to put them 1-0 up before two goals each from Triona Doyle and Audrey McCormack sealed Ireland the win.
The second match was a 2-0 defeat against England, with goals from Kelly Bingham (penalty corner) and Sarah James (open play). Ireland bounced back with a 2-0 win over Scotland, with both goals from E.J. Walsh, securing second play in the pool and a spot in the quarter finals.
Against Wales, Ireland put in a dominant performance, winning 4-0. E.J. Walsh scored a 4th minute penalty corner with Aoife McCarthy following suit with a second penalty corner for 2-0 within 18 minutes. A Triona Doyle field goal made it 3-0 in the 28th minute and Linda Maher’s 33rd minute penalty corner sealed a 4-0 win and a place in the semi-final for the Irish Women.
In the semi-final Ireland took on hosts Spain who took the lead through Monica Lapeyra’ penalty corner in the 6th minute to put them 1-0 ahead. E.J. Walsh equalised with a 12th minute goal from open play. She got her second of the match from a 15th minute penalty corner to put Ireland 2-1 ahead. Audrey McCormack’s 50th minute penalty corner sealed Ireland’s 3-1 win and a place in the gold medal final.
In the gold medal match, Ireland defeated Germany 1-0 to become the Women’s Over 45s Euro Masters. The decisive goal came in the 42nd minute from a penalty corner from E.J. Walsh, capping a brilliant campaign.
WOMEN OVER 50s
Ireland’s Women’ Over 50’s started with a very respectable 0-0 draw against Germany in Pool B. Ireland’s second game was against the Netherlands. After a scoreless first half a burst of early third quarter action saw the Dutch race into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Maaike Schroeder and Sacha Bal. Emma Glanville’s 56th minute penalty corner for Ireland proved to be a consolation goal in a 1-2 defeat.
In their third game, Ireland faced Alliance, a team of players from different countries whose national teams do not participate at this age bracket. Catherine Bell gave Alliance a 1-0 lead, but Noreen Daly Gillis equalised for Ireland with a goal from open play in the 21st minute. Two converted penalty corners by Emma Glanville had Ireland leading 3-1 in the 42nd minute. Further open play goals from Caroline Brady, Nichola Thompson and Fiona Byrne saw Ireland end the game 6-1 winners.
Ireland faced England in the semi-final. Anna Morgan opened the scoring for England to put them 1-0 up and two goals by Sally Powell sealed a 3-0 win for England putting Ireland into a bronze medal clash with Belgium.
A 0-0 draw forced a shootout for the bronze medal. Noreen Daly Gillis and Nichola Thompson scored for Ireland, while Belgium converted just one of their attempts through Stephanie Dincq, giving Ireland a 2-1 shootout win and a well-earned bronze medal.
MEN’S OVER 45s
Ireland opened their Pool A campaign against Germany with a 3-0 win. David Smith scored the opener in the 8th minute from open play, giving Ireland a 1-0 lead at half-time. Michael McGuinness made it 2-0 with a 36th minute converted penalty corner and Adrian Sweeny sealed the 3-0 win in the 41st minute with a goal from open play.
In the second Pool A game against Netherlands, Ireland found themselves a goal down following a 9th minute penalty stroke converted by Martijn Van Woerkom. Ireland equalised with a penalty corner at the end of the first half with the match ending in 1-1.
Ireland bounced back emphatically in their third match, defeating England B 5-0. Open play goals from Simon Hunter, Adrian Sweeny, and Michael McGuinness had them 3-0 ahead and then a Phil Stirling penalty corner and a Johnny Aiken field goal sealed the win for the Irish squad.
The final Pool A game saw Ireland take on hosts Spain. Two goals apiece from Phil Stirling and Adrian Sweeny were enough to put Ireland into the semi-final and winners of Pool A.
In the semi-final, Ireland faced Wales. Johnny Aiken gave Ireland a 19th minute lead. Wales equalised through a converted penalty corner via Jacob Agoro in the 34th minute and then took the lead through a Tim Jones penalty stroke just five minutes later. Ireland hit back quickly with McGuinness levelling with a penalty corner in the 41st minute. Adrian Sweeny put Ireland back in front with a goal from open play in the 44th minute to make it 3-2, and Phil Stirling sealed the win for Ireland when he converted a 50th minute penalty stroke on a 4-2 final core.
Ireland Men’s Over 45’s took on England in the gold medal game on Sunday. After a scoreless first half, Simon Hunter put Ireland ahead in the 36th minute from open play to make it 1-0. That lead lasted a mere three minutes as a penalty corner for England converted by Tim Johnson made it 1-1. England skipper Titch Hanspal’s 44th minute goal from open play was enough to secure the title for England, with Ireland earning a well-deserved silver.
MEN’S OVER 50s
Ireland’s Men Over 50’s Masters played in Pool A beating Scottish Thistles 6-0 in their opening game thanks to two goals apiece from Gavin Weir and David Priestley, with Ashley Harrison and Stephen Magee also on the scoresheet.
Against Spain, Ireland came from 0-2 down to draw 2-2, thanks to a penalty corner each by Stephen Magee and Gavin Weir. They followed that up with a 2-1 win over Germany with Tito Priestley giving Ireland the lead and Eise Lodewijk sealing the victory after a German equaliser.
In their fourth game, Ireland drew 1-1 with Wales. Wales went ahead from a penalty stroke in the first half, but Ireland equalised with a goal by Martin Colvin for 1-1.
This result left Ireland needing a win to make the knockout stages in their final pool A game against Scotland. Scotland went 1-0 up through a penalty corner by Calum Wood. Tito Priestley equalised for Ireland from open play, and Michael Pobloth gave Ireland the lead. Colin Moulson’s 54th minute penalty corner made the final score 2-2 forcing a shoot-out. In the resulting shootout Michael Pobloth scored Ireland’s only goal. Despite Scotland converting just two attempts, it was enough to win 2-1.
Ireland regrouped to defeat Wales 3-1 in their crossover match with two goals form Stephen Magee and one from Eise Lodewijk, to qualify for the 5th-6th place final. In their final match, Ireland faced France and found themselves 2-0 down before Ashley Harrison pulled one back in the 43rd minute. Stephan Magee equalised from a penalty corner in the 57th minute to level the match at 2-2, ultimately sending it to a penalty shootout. Ireland were unable to find the back of the net, with France winning the shootout 2-0 to secure fifth place, leaving Ireland to finish sixth after a hard-fought campaign in Valencia.
