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Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ireland fightback to defeat Czechia in Portugal: ‘We made life difficult for ourselves'
Having trailed 3-1, an impressive third quarter display saw Ireland take control of the game, with Johnny McKee, Matthew Nelson and a Lee Cole brace giving Ireland a lead that they saw out to secure the win. Ireland dominated possession in the opening minutes, with Matthew Nelson's early effort deflected over the bar by the Czech defenders. McKee earned Ireland the first penalty corner of the match after Louis Rowe did well to release his Banbridge teammate on the break. Cole's effort from the corner was well saved. Czechia, however, drew first blood, breaking the deadlock just before the end of the first quarter, a deft touch in the circle from a crash ball beating Jaime Carr in the Irish net. Czechia added a second to their tally halfway through quarter 2, but Ireland pulled a goal back just before half-time thanks to some individual brilliance from Daragh Walsh. He cut inside from the right-hand side and beat two players before finding McKee on the penalty spot to strike into the back of the net. Czechia's pace on the break continued to cause Ireland problems in the second half, as they won a penalty corner after two minutes, which Ireland did well to defend initially. However, Czechia eventually found the net from the follow-up. Ireland responded immediately, McKee getting his second and a great pass from Matthew Nelson to fire in on his reverse from a tight angle. With the momentum now in their favour, Ireland launched another attack, McKee yet again getting involved with his effort at goal blocked on the line by a Czech body to win Ireland a penalty stroke, which Cole dispatched to draw Ireland level at 3-3. Sean Murray and Matthew Nelson combined to put Ireland ahead for the first time in the game, Murray weaving his way along the baseline and calmly flicking towards goal for Nelson to touch into the net. Ireland pressed immediately from the restart, with Cole eventually winning ball on the edge of the Czech circle and drawing a heavy foul to win a second penalty stroke, which he again dispatched to extend Ireland's lead to 5-3 and that was enough for victory. Speaking after the game, Ireland Head Coach Mark Tumilty said: 'We made that difficult for ourselves today. Any time they got into our circle they looked dangerous. We have enough experience in this competition to know how difficult it can be, but we need to manage those challenging patches better.' Discussing Ireland's comeback, Tumilty added: 'The positive was quarter three where we played better hockey, were more aggressive in the press, and scored some good goals.' Ireland will face Italy in their next game of Pool A on Tuesday, July 29 at 3.15pm.
Belfast Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Australia hit Ireland for six in Antwerp: ‘They are world class'
The two teams clash once more in the FIH Pro League on Wednesday, with pushback in Belgium at 2.30pm. Cole said: 'I think we struggled to keep up with the pace in the second half, and I think we went a little bit flat and into our shells which is never a good thing to do against Australia. 'They are a world class outfit, they have always been. I think everyone in this league is and that's the real challenge. Stringing performances together is where we need to improve. 'We have another chance tomorrow to bounce back. In an ideal world, if we don't bounce back, we get one good performance and back it up with another. 'That is the plan now, a big game tomorrow and then back it up with two good performances in our final games over the weekend.' Jeremy Hayward opened the scoring for Australia only for Ireland to level before the end of the first quarter. Johnny McKee stepped forward in the press to win the ball and release Banbridge's Peter Brown down the right flank. Brown weaved his way into the circle, offloaded to Ben Walker who found McKee free to flick into the top corner. At the start of the second half, a stick tackle on Nathan Ephraums inside the circle resulted in a penalty stroke, which Blake Govers dispatched to restore Australia's lead. Cooper Burns added a third at the start of the third quarter, before Connar Otterbach penalty corner deflected into the roof of the net for four. Jack Welch hit a fifth just before the end of the third quarter. Blake Govers scored his second and Australia's sixth in the final quarter of the game. The two teams will clash against in Antwerp on Wednesday afternoon. Ireland's FIH Pro League campaign will close this weekend with a double header against Spain.
Belfast Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Tom Boon hat-trick condemns Ireland to defeat in Belgium
It's the first of six FIH Pro League games the Green Machine will play in Belgium this week, as Mark Tumilty's team bring the curtain down on their second campaign in international hockey's elite league. Boon, the Pro League's top scorer, broke the deadlock with a fine volley in the first quarter. Thibeau Stockbroekx added a second in the next quarter, reacting quickest after a save from Jaime Carr to find the back of the net. A penalty corner late in the first half resulted in a third for Belgium, Boon getting his second of the match and sixteenth of the competition. An ideal start to the second half for Ireland saw them find the back of the net, when Banbridge's Louis Rowe reacted quickest to lift the ball over Loic Van Doren in net. Boon saw his penalty stroke saved by Carr. A fourth, though did eventually come for Belgium, with Roman Duvekot finishing off a slick attacking move to restore the three-goal lead in the closing stages of the third quarter. Boon finally completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute, condemning Ireland to their 10th Pro League loss in 11 games. Ireland will play Belgium on Sunday with pushback at 2.30pm.
RTÉ News
14-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Five-star Belgium sink Ireland in FIH Pro League
Belgium 5-1 Ireland World No 2-ranked Belgium outmuscled Ireland in the first match of the final FIH Pro League stage in Antwerp on Saturday. A Tom Boon hat-trick put the home side out of reach despite a super performance from Ireland goalkeeper Jaime Carr. Banbridge's Louis Rowe nicked a consolation goal for the Green Machine. Belgium threatened early on, having a goal disallowed inside the first five minutes, followed by a couple of efforts from Boon. However Boon, the current FIH Pro League top scorer, would soon break the deadlock, volleying in from a Nelson Onana pass. Belgium continued to control the first quarter, generating several circle entries. Ireland started the second quarter quiet well, but Belgium soon reasserted their authroity. Thibeau Stockbroekx added a second goal, reacting quickest after a save from Carr to find the back of the net. The Belgian press continued to cause problems it the late stages of the first half, with a turnover in midfield forcing another save from Carr. A penalty corner late in the first half resulted in a third for Belgium, Boon getting his second of the match and 16th of the competition. Rowe did get one back early in the second half, calmly lifting the ball over Loic Van Doren. And they almost had a second just a few minutes after. Johnny McKee drove into the circle and found Ali Empey on the penalty spot but his effort was saved by Van Doren. Belgium responded though. when Roman Duvekot finished off a slick attacking move to restore the three-goal lead in the closing stages of the third quarter. The final quarter began in a frantic fashion, as Ireland looked to find a way back into the game, and Belgium tried to put it out of reach. A couple of chances for Belgium were well defended by Ireland, with Peter McKibbin putting his body on the line on one occasion. But Boon finally got his hat-trick, striking into the net in the 50th minute.
Belfast Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Three Ulstermen called into Ireland squad for Antwerp trip
Johnny McKee has been called into the squad for the first time since the Paris Olympics for the trip to Antwerp, where Ireland will face hosts Belgium, Australia and Spain twice each. McKee will be joined in the squad by fellow Banbridge man Luke Witherow and Lisnagarvey's Jonny Lynch. YMCA's Sam Hyland also joins the panel for the six-match block of fixtures. Coach Mark Tumilty said: 'We have four new players coming into the squad for Antwerp. The team have worked hard this year on their physical condition and should be ready for the challenges over the next ten days.' Ireland have struggled to compete in the elite division, which features the world's top nine international teams. The Green Machine have lost nine and drawn one of their ten fixtures so far. Ireland will face Belgium on Saturday and Sunday. Next up is a double header with Australia on Tuesday June 17 and Wednesday June 17, with all four games set to start at 2.30pm BST. Tumilty's team then face Spain on Saturday June 21 and Sunday June 22, with pushback for both matches at 9.30pm.
