Friday, February 13 – Hobart, Australia: A much-improved performance by the Irish women’s hockey team against Argentina saw Ireland score first, forcing Argentina’s comeback. The team fought until the final whistle, but Argentina held on and took the points.
Ireland started very brightly, Katie Mullan thinking quickly from an early free goal to throw an aerial pass to Sarah Torrans in the Argentina circle, who had two attempts saved by Mercedes Artola, but Torrans did well to regain 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 had most of the ball in the subsequent phase, but Ireland looked disciplined in the press, giving Argentina no space or time to do any damage.
Sarah Hawkshaw was called into defense in the closing minutes of the first quarter to make an excellent tackle and clear her lines.
However, Argentina found the equalizer in the final minute of Q1, with Las Leonas winning and breaking the ball in their own half. They worked the ball to Maria Granatto, who found the back of the net on her inverted stick.
The match continued into quarter 2, when Ireland looked more than ready for the fight. The first notable chance came from Ireland when Ellen Curran hit a long ball into the Argentina circle to win a penalty corner. Ireland came within inches of their second from the corner when Roisin Upton delivered a ball to Sarah Hawkshaw who ran onto the back post, but her deflection went just wide of her near post.
Ireland withstood a late period of pressure from Argentina and defended their circle well, but Argentina eventually ended the quarter with a penalty corner after making a mistake in the Irish circle. The corner was broken, but Argentina worked the ball back into the circle and got through on goal, which Holly Micklem saved well to keep the team level at half-time.
Argentina made a more intense start to the second half than the first, creating a messy battle in the center of the pitch as both sides turned the ball over under pressure from their opponents. Argentina made another mistake 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 making contact with a teammate in the circle a few minutes later for Argentina’s third, but Ireland survived and kept it to one score.
Argentina made a good start to the final quarter, winning a penalty corner on their first possession. Ireland defended the try well, with Holly Micklem making a crucial save and Hannah McLoughlin winning the free-ball contest to win a free goal.
However, Ireland showed no sign of giving up and took every opportunity that came their way to test Argentina’s defence. Ireland had some good passages in the Argentina half, the best of which ended in Sarah Hawkshaw’s shot from a tight angle which she connected cleanly.
With two minutes remaining, Argentina was shown a yellow card for repeated stoppages of play, giving Ireland a player advantage for the remaining time. Ireland withdrew goalkeeper Holly Mickelm to apply further pressure in the dying embers, but Argentina defended their 2-1 lead and took the three points.
Ireland play the final match of their FIH Hockey Pro League leg in Tasmania when they take on hosts Australia on Sunday, February 15 at 6:30am Irish time. Watch the match live on Watch.Hockey.
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