Ireland battle but fall short against World No.1 Netherlands in close first encounter
Netherlands 2-0 Ireland
Ireland resumed their FIH Pro League season with a close encounter against World No.1 and Olympic champions the Netherlands in Amstelveen.
A strong performance from a battling Ireland saw them enjoy long periods of possession and create several chances in front of goal.
However, two fortunate goals for the Netherlands saw the home side secure a 2-0 win.
The Netherlands threatened from early in the match, with defender Lee Cole called into action almost immediately to clear the ball off the line from an early chance. Ireland responded positively, holding possession well and managing to progress into the Dutch final third, with Ben Walker making his way into the circle, followed by a blocked shot from Alistair Empey.
Ireland continued to dominate possession, but a rare chance for the Dutch called Jaime Carr into action to make a smart save. Thierry Brinkman thought he had broken the deadlock with a reverse stick shot but Ireland immediately opted to refer for backstick, which the video umpire agreed with chalking the goal off, seeing the sides end the opening quarter locked at 0-0.
Early Dutch pressure again forced Ireland to defend resolutely, answering any questions asked from them. Luke Madeley responded by dribbling out of defence to break the Dutch press, allowing Ireland to mount an attack that ended in Ali Empey drawing a clumsy challenge and winning the first penalty corner of the tie. Luke Madeley's subsequent effort was well blocked by the Dutch first runner.
Ireland continued to ask questions of the Dutch, with incisive runs from Fearghus Gibson and Daragh Walsh providing chances. However, a controversial penalty corner for the Netherlands offered them a chance to open the scoring, which Luke Dommershuijzen dispatched to score his first senior goal.
Late pressure from the Netherlands in the first half threatened to widen the gap, but a superb block from Matthew Nelson and further defending denied them their second as the sides went into the break.
Ireland got the second half underway and immediately looked to attack. Positive play in the final third led to a shot from Lee Cole inside the first minute, but his strike was deemed dangerous, and the Netherlands were given a free out. Patience in possession for Ireland continued to pay dividends, as Matthew Nelson attacked the circle and was unlucky not to get an outcome.
The Netherlands, however, showed their goalscoring prowess to double their lead from their first chance of the second half, Steijn van Heijningen deflecting the ball into the net with the deftest of touches.
Ireland, though, were determined to continue their positive performance, immediately winning a penalty corner which, again, the Netherlands defended well. Ireland followed this up with another well-worked attacking move which, again, the Dutch cleared.
A late flurry of penalty corners before the end of the third quarter called the Irish defence into action again, denying the hosts on three occasions to keep the score at 2-0 at the end of quarter 3.
The Netherlands found a higher gear in the final quarter, enjoying longer periods of pressure and manufacturing a handful of shots at goal which Jaime Carr was alive to. Ireland's determination would continue to show with Ali Empey winning Ireland their third penalty corner of the game.
Lee Cole's resulting effort was saved and cleared. A penalty corner for the Netherlands inside the final five minutes offered the last moment of note of the game, with Jaime Carr again making a save, to see the game finish in a two-nil win for the Dutch, with the result seeing them extend their lead at the top of the FIH Pro League table to 7 points.
The pair will meet again tomorrow, June 12, at 7pm.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Rhasidat Adeleke finishes fourth in Bislett in 400m season opener
RHASIDAT ADELEKE OPENED her 400m outdoor season with a 50.42-second run to finish fourth at the Diamond League Bislett Games in Oslo on Thursday evening. America's Isabella Whittaker won in 49.58, finishing fastest to pip home hopeful Henriette Jaeger in the final strides, the Norwegian running a new national record of 49.62. Team GB's Amber Anning finished third in 50.24, narrowly ahead of Adeleke, who is set to continue her 400m campaign as Sunday's Diamond League meet in Stockholm. Later on Thursday, Mark English — who has lowered his own 800m national record twice in the last two weeks — finished seventh in 1:44.33, just over four-tenths of a second outside his best. Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya won in a time of 1:42.78. Advertisement
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Netherlands hit Ireland for six in FIH Pro League
Netherlands 6-2 Ireland The Netherlands proved why they are Olympic champions and World No 1 as they inflicted a second FIH Pro League defeat on Ireland in Amstelveen in as many days. A brace from Lisnagarvey's Ben Nelson gave Ireland a major positive to take forward into their remaining FIH Pro League games, however, after Wednesday's 2-0 loss. Three saves from Luke Roleston had helped to keep the score level at the end of the first quarter and both sides had had a penalty corner before Netherlands scored through the third, Jip Janssen drag-flicking past Roleston to break the deadlock. Terrence Pieters eventually got the Netherlands' second just before half-time. A ball across the circle popped up off an Irish stick, giving Pieters the opportunity to volley into the net. The Dutch started the second half quickly, with a penalty corner in the first minute providing them an early chance. The resulting effort was deflected into the body of Lee Cole, and the Netherlands were awarded a penalty stroke, albeit a controversial one, which Jip Janssen snuck past Roleston for the Netherlands' third. Ireland remained steadfast in their efforts, but a speculative call went the way of the home side again for a corner, which Pepijn van der Heijden flicked low into the net to add a fourth. The visitors ended the third quarter positively, mounting a series of attacks, the last of which saw brothers Ben and Matthew Nelson connect well down the right flank to make their way into the circle, but selflessness from Ben as he tried to find the final pass rather than taking on the shot at goal gave the Dutch the chance to clear. Ireland made an ideal start to the final quarter, Sean Murray making a great tackle in the middle of the park and finding Ben Nelson free in the circle to fire into the net and grab Ireland's first. But the Dutch responded, restoring their four-goal lead from open play through Joep Troost. Despite the game looking out of sight, there were still plenty of positive moments in the closing stages from Ireland. An audacious lob from Ali Empey looked destined for the net but hit the side netting instead, followed by a good interchange from Ben Pasley and Adam McAllister forcing the Dutch into more defensive duties. Ben Nelson grabbed his second goal of the game sneaking the ball over Visser following a good crash ball, rewarding Ireland for their continued positive play. But the Dutch scored the final goal of the game right on the final whistle. Speaking after the game Ben Nelson said: "Playing against the top teams in the world, the Olympic Champions; it's always going to be a difficult game in their own backyard. "It's our first two matches in a block of eight, I think we need to just keep pushing on from now, take the positives from this game, see the areas we need to work on, and then push on to the next six matches." Ireland Men's Head Coach Mark Tumilty added: "It's hard to be positive after a 6-2 defeat, but we didn't deserve to lose by that margin. We created better opportunities in the first half and yet found ourselves 2-0 down at half-time." Discussing some of the umpiring decisions, Tumilty said: "I thought we should have been awarded a stroke in the first half but ended up losing our video referral. The stroke they were awarded should not have been, Luke Roleston was behind Lee Cole on the goal line. I thought those decisions were shocking. I expect decisions to be correct." Tumilty's side will travel to Antwerp next where they will begin their final stage of the FIH Pro League with an encounter with Belgium on Saturday at 2.30pm Irish time.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Netherlands prove their class with big win over Ireland in second match of Amstelveen double-header
Ireland started nervously, with an early defensive error offering the Dutch a chance that goalkeeper Luke Roleston saved well. They soon settled, and Ben Nelson's reverse-stick effort was well blocked by the Dutch defense. Ireland nearly struck first during a strong spell of possession. Ben Pasley's lifted ball across goal found Alistair Empey, who came close to scoring, but Dutch debutant Mauritz Visser produced a fine save. The Netherlands earned the first penalty corner of the match late in the opening quarter, forcing Roleston into two sharp saves to keep the game scoreless. Ireland continued to apply pressure in the second quarter with an effective press that disrupted Dutch build-up play. A penalty corner which could potentially have been a penalty stroke after a heavy tackle on Adam McAllister, gave Ireland a big chance but Lee Cole's shot was well defended. The Dutch responded quickly. A penalty corner saw Jip Janssen break the deadlock with a drag flick past Roleston. Moments later, another Dutch corner was well cleared, but a deflected cross shortly after allowed Terrance Pieters to volley home their second before half-time. The hosts came out fast in the second stanza, winning a penalty corner within a minute. A deflection off Lee Cole led to a controversial penalty stroke, which Janssen converted for 3-0. Despite Ireland's continued effort, the Netherlands added a fourth through Pepijn van der Heijden, who fired low from another penalty corner. Ireland finished the third quarter strongly. A promising move from brothers Ben and Matthew Nelson down the right side nearly paid off, but a pass instead of a shot allowed the Dutch to clear the danger. The visitors also started the final quarter brightly when Sean Murray intercepted in midfield and found Ben Nelson in the circle, who finished confidently to make it 4-1. However, the Netherlands hit back immediately through Joep Troost to restore the four-goal cushion. Even with the result beyond doubt, Ireland showed attacking intent in the closing stages. Ali Empey came close with a clever lob that hit the side netting, and a flowing move involving Pasley and McAllister forced more defensive work from the hosts. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Ben Nelson capped a strong individual performance with his second goal, cleverly lifting the ball over Visser. But the Dutch had the final say, scoring on the final whistle to secure a 6-2 win. Speaking after the game, goalscorer Ben Nelson said: 'Playing against the top teams in the world, the Olympic Champions; it's always going to be a difficult game in their own backyard. "It's our first two matches in a block of eight, I think we need to just keep pushing on from now, take the positives from this game, see the areas we need to work on, and then push on to the next six matches.' Head coach Mark Tumilty questioned some of the refereeing, adding 'It's hard to be positive after a 6-2 defeat, but we didn't deserve to lose by that margin. We created better opportunities in the first half and yet found ourselves 2-0 down at half-time.' 'I thought we should have been awarded a stroke in the first half but ended up losing our video referral. The stroke they were awarded should not have been, Luke Roleston was behind Lee Cole on the goal line. I thought those decisions were shocking. I expect decisions to be correct.' Ireland will travel to Antwerp next where they will begin their final stage of the FIH Pro League with an encounter against Belgium on Saturday, June 14 at 2:30pm Irish time.
