Ireland bounce back to beat Italy in FIH Nations Cup

Ireland 3-0 Italy

Ireland bounced back from a heavy opening-day defeat at the FIH Nations Cup to register a 3-0 victory over Italy in Terrassa, Spain.

The Pool A encounter pitted two sides in need of a win – Italy having lost to Korea while Ireland were beaten 5-1 by hosts and top seeds Spain – and it was the team in green that got off to the fast start, Niamh Carey scoring in the fourth minute after a pass from Hannah McLoughlin.

Ireland, ranked 13th in the world and four places above Italy, doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when McLoughlin converted a penalty corner.

McLoughin got her second, and her team’s third, with her second penalty corner of the match in the 30th minute to ensure a 3-0 half-time lead.

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, but the onfield umpire referred it to the video umpire wondering if the original shot was too high.

The video umpire disallowed the goal for the use of a back stick. 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.

Three minutes later they were awarded a penalty corner which Ireland referred to the video umpire, who upheld the onfield umpire’s decision and Ireland lost their video referral.

Sara Puglisis’ drag flick was blocked and Ireland saw out the match 3-0.

Ireland will take on Korea in their final group game on Thursday.

“It’s definitely a lot better than our performance yesterday,” player of the match McLoughlin said.

“We worked a lot on our set plays and penalty corners, and they finally paid off, but it’s a team win today.”

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); Naomi Carroll (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)