She set up Katie Mullen who scored from a narrow angle. Ireland fortunate to be level at half time went down to 10 players when Lucy McKee was harshly sin binned.
Mckee made amends with a great run into the circle but the New Zealand keeper saved at her near post, when a pass to the far post would have been the higher percentage goal scoring option.
New Zealand had three players green carded during a sustained period of Irish pressure Joanne Orr crossed but Emily Beatty missed an open goal.
Rebecca Barry was then yellow carded for a needless challenge.
Chloe Brown missed a great chance when faced one on one with the goal keeper but shot over the cross bar.
With seven mins to go New Zealand scored a soft goal with goalkeeper Holmes beaten on the near post.
Ireland were level almost immediately when Rebecca Barry cracked home a penalty corner.
But Ireland again allowed New Zealand to run unopposed into the circle to win a penalty corner. Ireland’s inability to clear from the rebound allowed New Zealand another goal to win the game with two minutes left.
Ireland should have won this game but their inability to take chances and basic defensive errors cost them dearly.
Ireland have a rest day tomorrow and play their next game against Argentina on Thursday 19th.
Having seen the opposition Ireland have the potential to win games against Korea and South Africa a top four place is possible.
This at the outset may have been percieved as an unrealsitic goal, but if the team have a positive mindset, can minimise errors and convert more of the opportunities they create a top four place is a realsitic objective. To do so they will need to rest key players or rotate players more regularly against Argentina tomorow, and target wins against Korea and South Africa.
