5 days ago
Ireland keen for another crack at World No.1 Netherlands
Ireland women face the toughest test in world hockey when they take on world No.1 side the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon in their EuroHockey Championship opener.
The Dutch are unbeaten in this event for 10 years and will become the first nation, male or female, to win five EuroHockey titles in a row should they claim gold next Sunday in Monchengladbach.
Since losing the 2018 World Cup final, Ireland have now played the Oranje in every major tournament bar the 2023 EuroHockey.
'For years we didn't get to play the Dutch in the way fixtures worked out or in any Test series,' said Katie Mullan, who will be playing her sixth EuroHockey campaign.
'It's those games where we have grown a lot. In some aspects of our game we get closer every time and you always want to play the best and the ability to have a go.'
Ireland also face France and then hosts Germany in their final pool game on Wednesday, which is likely to be a straight shoot-out for a last-four berth.
The Green Army have finished fifth twice in their last three appearances. With five of the world's top eight nations competing, 11th-ranked Ireland will have their work cut out to reach the semi-finals for the first time ahead of a first appearance in next season's FIH Pro League.
This summer, coach Gareth Grundie has given Ireland plenty of matches to fine-tune this side. Since June, they have played against USA, the Dutch under-21s in Dublin, away to Czech Republic and Belgium and at home against Spain last week.
'We haven't broken the back of the Europeans yet,' said Mullan. 'It's by far the hardest continent as you have so many good teams, so making the semi-finals would be huge for us.
'It's performance after performance and there are two things you want to do at an international tournament: to play the best team and play the hosts.
'To play Germany next Wednesday night will be one of those ones you will never forget. It is one of those spectacle games you strive to get up for.'
Sarah Hawkshaw will captain Ireland in her first major tournament since taking over from Mullan, 31, after the Paris Olympics.
Hawkshaw is joined by four teammates from her Belgian club Braxgata, including experienced defender Roisin Upton.
Belfast Harlequins' Katie Larmour will be the least experienced Irish player when she lines up alongside Upton in the back lines.
'She is a very mature athlete, level-headed and really reliable at the back,' added Mullan.
'You will see the raw Irish mentality in her and her stability means we rely on her, even though she has one cap.'
