IRELAND 3 ITALY 0
Tuesday June 4, Terressa Spain: Ireland World Ranked #13, took on Italy, World Ranked #17, in their second Pool A game in Terrassa Spain with each of them in need of a win. Both teams went into this game on Tuesday afternoon on the back of opening day defeats. Italy had lost to Korea and Ireland had been beaten 5-1 by the hosts and top seeds Spain.
Ireland opened the scoring in the 4th minute, Niamh Carey from open play, shooting home a pass from Hannah McLoughlin. It was 2-0 in the 17th minute when Hannah McLoughlin converted a penalty corner and McLoughlin made it 3-0 with her second penalty corner of the match in the 30th minute and they led 3-0 at half-time. With no scoring in the second half, that's how the game ended.
Ireland started straight out of the traps and could have been a goal up in the opening minute Niamh Carey had an effort saved by Lucia Carusa the Italian goalkeeper. But she didn't have long to wait for her opening goal. In the 4th minute Hannah McLoughlin burst into the Italian semi-circle and her pass was finished to the net from open play by Niamh Carey 1-0 to Ireland. They led 1-0 at the end of the first quarter.
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Ireland increased their lead in the 17th minute when Hannah McLoughlin converted a penalty corner to make it 2-0 to Ireland. Italy enjoyed a purple patch in quarter two forcing three penalty corners but hitting the upright was the closest they came to a first half goal. Ireland scored again just before the break when Hannah McLoughlin converted her second penalty corner of the match. It was 3-0 at half-time.
The third quarter was book-ended by two disallowed goals. In the 32nd minute Italy were awarded a penalty corner. Federica Carta 's shot deflected off the pads high into the net. The onfield umpire referred it to the video umpire wondering if the original shot was too high. The video umpire told her the goal should be disallowed for the use of a back stick. And in the 45th minute Ireland also had a goal ruled out for use of a back stick.
In the fourth quarter it was a tale of two video referrals. Italy looked for a penalty corner which was overturned by the video umpire in the 48th minute and they lost their video referral. In the 51st minute Italy were awarded a penalty corner which Ireland referred to the video umpire. She upheld the onfield umpire's decision and Ireland lost their video referral. Sara Puglisis' drag flick was blocked and Ireland saw out the match and it finished 3-0.
Ireland got the job done, needed a victory and secured one. Hannah McLoughlin of Ireland was chosen as player of the match. Speaking afterwards to Watch Hockey TV she said:
"It's definitely a lot better than our performance yesterday. We worked a lot on our set plays and penalty corners, and they finally paid off, but it's a team win today."
"We didn't start the tournament as we would have liked. But we are a very resilient bunch, and we can bounce back. We knew yesterday wasn't in our game plan and wasn't our best day. But within 24 hours, we completely turned it around, and we are very excited now to meet Korea".
IRELAND:- Liz Murphy (GK); Sarah McAuley; Roisín Upton; Elena Neill; Ellen Curran; Sarah Torrans; Charlotte Beggs; Michelle Carey; Katie McKee; Katie Mullan;Niamh Carey: SUBS USED: Sarah Hawkshaw [3 mins]; NaomiCarroll [3 mins]; Hannah McLoughlin [4 mins]; Caoimhe Perdue [4 mins]; Christina Hamill [5 mins]; Síofra O'Brien [7 mins]
ITALY:- Lucia Ines Caruso (GK); Teresa Dalla Vittoria; Ilaria Sarnari; Antonella Rinardi; Federica Carta; Sara Puglisi (C); Sofia Laurito; Laura Oviedo; Guadalupe Muras; Victoria Cabut; Maria Lunghi: SUBS USED: Elettra Bormida [3 mins]; Emilia Munitis [4 mins]; Antonella Bruni [4 mins]; Ivanna Pessini 4 mins]; Azul Gilardi [4 mins]; Lara Manzoni [4 mins]
