4 Nations Tournament Valencia
Ireland 2(Magee, Murray)
England 2 (Wallace, Taylor)
Shootout:
Ireland 4
England 3
There was nothing to separate the two sides for much of the opening half. Mark Gleghorne and the English defence were content to pass the ball around the back in search of an opening that rarely appeared. Likewise, the Green Machine held the ball for long phases and sent crash balls into the English 23 but neither GK was really challenged. The chance of the half fell to James Gall as he took advantage of Conor Harte slipping but his shot was forced wide with good pressure from Michael Robson and David Fitzgerald.
The game came to life in the second half with 2 goals inside the first 6 minutes. Barry Middleton broke down the right-hand side and sent the ball across the circle for Zachary Wallace to score at the back post. But minutes later and Eugene Magee’s deflection was the equaliser from a superb pass from Michael Robson. Ireland appeared to have the upper hand and won 2 penalty corners in quick succession, the latter of the two resulting in a disallowed goal. England were perhaps lucky to take the lead in the 49th from a penalty corner drag by Luke Taylor as the ball didn’t appear to leave the circle on the push out. But Sean Murray drew the game level in the 56th minute with a close-range shot following a great run and pass by Shane O’Donoghue. A last gasp penalty corner drag from O’Donoghue was well saved from George Pinner to keep to the game at 2-2 when the final whistle sounded, sending the game to a shootout to decide the final placings.
Magee, Alan Sothern, O’Donoghue and Daragh Walsh all got on the scoresheet to secure the victory, combined with 2 super saves from Fitzgerald.
Shootout:
| Round | Ireland (4) | England (3) |
| 1 | Robson X | Martin ✓ |
| 2 | Magee ✓ | Wallace ✓ |
| 3 | Sothern ✓ | Roper X |
| 4 | O’Donoghue ✓ | Dixon ✓ |
| 5 | Walsh ✓ | Middleton X |
Starting: D Fitzgerald, J Bell (Captain), E Magee, K Shimmins, S O’Donoghue, S Murray, M Darling, C Harte, J Duncan, L Cole, S Loughrey
Subs: D Harte, M Bell, M Nelson, A Sothern, M Robson, D Walsh, P Gleghorne
4 Nations Tournament Valencia:
29/10 16:30 Ireland 2vs1 England
29/10 18:30 Spain 2vs1 Netherlands
30/10 16:30 Netherlands 2vs1 England
30/10 18:30 Spain 1vs0 Ireland
01/11 16:30 Ireland 1vs7 Netherlands
01/11 18:30 Spain 2vs1 England
03/11 10:00 Spain 3vs0 England
03/11 12:30 Netherlands 5vs2 Ireland
04/11 10:00 Ireland vs England
04/11 12:30 Spain vs Netherlands
Upcoming Fixtures:
10/11/18 14:00 Ireland vs Belgium in Royal Evere White Star HC
19/11/18 19:00 Ireland vs Netherlands at Hockey Club Hurley in Amsterdam
