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.
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