Ireland defeat Azerbaijan

Ireland’s women eased their relegation worries at these European Championships with a 3-1 win against Azerbaijan at the Warsteiner Hockey Park in Monchengladbach.

The Irish dominated from the start and Audrey O’Flynn, Lisa Jacob, Nicola Symmons and Cliodhna Sargent all went close with early scoring opportunities.

They took a deserved lead in the 32nd minute; the goal came from their fifth penalty-corner of the game. Michelle Harvey’s drag flick deflected off an opponents foot and into the back of the net.

Michelle Harvey, Ireland, drag flicks to score her side’s first goal.

Gene Muller’s side doubled their lead in the 58th minute, initially Jacob was denied, but the ball broke for Emma Clarke and she finished from close range.

Above: Emma Clarke celebrates her goal with Lisa Jacob

Symmons scored a third six minutes from the end. She started and finished the move of the game to make it 3-0.

Azerbaijan pulled a goal back two minutes from time through a short corner through their captain Kim Yoon Seon.

It ended 3-1 to Ireland and they will hope to secure their elite status with victory in their final game against Italy on Saturday.

Irish players celebrate their first win in the European Championships in Germany.

The late goal, though, leaves Ireland in third place and needing to outdo Azerbaijan’s result on Saturday.

Ireland play Italy at 08.30 whilst at 10.30 Azerbaijan play Belgium. The positions in Pool with all teams having played 2 games is as follows:

1. Belgium 6 pts + 7 GD
2. Azerbaijan 3 pts 0 GD
3. Ireland 3 pts -1 GD
4. Italy 0 pts – 6 GD

Coach Muller after the game said “he was very happy with the team and the overall performance. They defended really well and took the chances created. It is still all to play for and will now focus on Italy who are a totally different side than the one we have just played”

Ireland Starting XI: Emma Gray (GK), Nicola Symmons, Sinead McCarthy, Cliodhna Sargent, Audrey O Flynn, Emma Smyth, Emma Clarke, Shirley McCay, Julia O Halloran, Alex Speers, Aine Connery.
Reserves: Michelle Harvey, Lisa Jacob, Niamh Small, Chloe Watkins, Lizzie Colvin

Azerbaijan Startin X1: Hyesook Shukurzade, Emine Muzaffarova, Yonn Seon Jim, Myungsoon Mammadova, Caijuan Shukurova, Mi Seon Aliyeva, Zhang Suleymanova, Hwa Lee, Zhun Mammadova, Boran Kim, Saadat Nuriyeva.
Reserves: Khatira Aliyeva, Jiayan Huseynova, Yuan Gurbanova, Viktoriya Shabazova (GK), Soyoon Lee,

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Ireland defeat Azerbaijan

 

Ireland secured their second win today in the ESB Electric Ireland FIH Champions Challenge I tournament against Azerbaijan today in UCD.

Ireland looked confident and composed from the off and similar to yesterday secured a number of penalty corners in the first half.

It was on their third that Audrey O’Flynn fired home a great drag flick to put Ireland ahead.

Ireland looked likely to double their lead when Watkins broke through but her efforts went unrewarded.

But just seconds later Azerbaijan equalised taking full advantage of an opportunistic moment when Ireland’s defence were caught off guard enabling Mammadova to equalise before half-time.

It was Julia O’Halloran who re-established Ireland’s lead after the break when she took advantage of a bouncing ball volleying it into the net.

The game ensued in end to end style both sides with chances and testing their opposing defences. Grey for Ireland was once again excellent in goals keeping the Irish defence composed.

Ireland were forced to soak up a considerable amount of pressure in the closing five minutes of the game, but they displayed control and composure and wound the clock down to ensure they walked off the pitch with another victory and three points in the bag.

Ireland starting XV: Emma Gray; Michelle Harvey; Cliodhna Sargent; Emma Smyth; Emma Clarke; Alex Speers; Shirley McCay; Julia O’Halloran; Sinead McCarthy; Nikki Symmons; Nicci Daly.

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