Latest news with #McLoughlin
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘We have a lot to take away with a young group and that's an exciting thing'
Ireland finished eighth and last after a 2-1 defeat against England, but avoided relegation with a revamped 2027 EuroHockey set to field more teams in London. Katie Mullan scored a superb chip either side of Tess Howard's deflected goal, off Sarah McAuley's stick, and Darcy Bourne caressing into an empty net to beat the advancing Holly Micklem, who had replaced the impressive Lizzie Murphy in goal for Ireland's final match. Ireland looked the better side in the first half before England were made to work for their win. It could have been a draw had time not run out on Caoimhe Perdue as she set for a shot with the last move of the match. 'You come away with a loss and you can feel down but 2-1 is close, we executed our gameplan and played a lot more hockey,' said McLoughlin. 'It's been an up and down tournament but we have a lot to take away with a young group and that's an exciting thing to come away from.' Ireland's next port of call will be competing in a first FIH Pro League, the start of a packed calendar over the next 12 months. This will also take in a World Cup qualifying event in late February. 'There is an awful lot on the table,' added McLoughlin, who will be one of nine players competing in the Belgian league next season. 'One of my messages at the end of the match was that we are going to be bitterly disappointed with this campaign, but we need to turn that into hunger to get better and be the team we know we can be.'
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
After a below-par EuroHockey campaign Ireland have a lot 'on the table' facing into first Pro League
Hannah McLoughlin says there is 'an awful lot on the table' for Ireland women over the next 12 months, as they look to pick themselves up from a below-par EuroHockey campaign and qualify for a first World Cup since 2018. Ireland finished eighth following a 2-1 defeat against England yesterday, but avoided relegation with more teams set to be included in a revamped 2027 EuroHockey Championship in London. Tess Howard opened the scoring when she passed across the circle only for Sarah McAuley to turn into her own net. Ireland missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise when Sarah Torrans and a sliding Katie Mullan couldn't combine with a circle overload and a gaping goal. Mullan again went to ground midway through the second quarter, but this time her finish was world-class with a superb goalbound chip. Ireland went behind again at the start of the third quarter when Darcy Bourne swept home at the top of the circle after Holly Micklem, who replaced Lizzie Murphy in goal for this final match, raced out of goal to try and clear. Time then ran down on Ireland as Caoimhe Perdue set herself for a shot with the last move of the match. 'You come away with a loss and you can feel down but 2-1 is close, we executed our game plan and played a lot more hockey,' said McLoughlin. 'We need to create more attacking and efficiency in our final third. 'It's been an up and down tournament but we have a lot to take away with a young group and that's an exciting thing to come away from.' Ireland's first foray into the women's FIH Pro League will mean a packed schedule over the next year. It is not yet known if they will play their first block of matches in December, but they will compete in February ahead of a qualification tournament for the 2026 World Cup. 'There is an awful lot on the table,' added McLoughlin. 'One of my messages at the end of the match was that we are going to be bitterly disappointed with this campaign but we need to turn that into hunger to get better and be the team we know we can be.' McLoughlin works part-time for a financial consultancy in Dublin and can work remotely from Ghent. She will be one of nine players competing in the competitive Belgian league this season, but the Dubliner says there will be no club v country issue for half the Irish side. 'If anything it's a great conundrum to be sitting down with and international duty will always take preference,' she added. 'It's about becoming a better hockey player technically and tactically, to play under a different system and have a breath of fresh air. It's telling that more players are doing that after they've seen what we've learned abroad.' Overall here, Ireland showed glimpses of being a competitive side ahead of the Pro League. They leaked just two goals against world No.1 Netherlands and held finalists Germany to a 0-0 draw. In between, the poor defeat to France ultimately saw Gareth Grundie's side fail to reach the semi-finals for the first time. 'We have shown throughout the tournament that we can match teams who are in the Pro League,' said Grundie. Mullan and Roisin Upton account for over a third of Ireland's squad caps, while four players had 18 combined matches before heading to Germany. 'We are inexperienced and it's about learning what works for us and putting that on the table every single time,' added Grundie.
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ireland's EuroHockey semi-final hopes ended despite Germany draw
Germany 0-0 Ireland Ireland put in a strong performance against Germany in their final pool outing, but the 0-0 draw against the hosts wasn't enough to secure a EuroHockey Championships semi-final spot. Having lost to the Netherlands and France already in Pool A, only a victory by two clear goals was going to suffice in Monchengladbach, and despite dominating the game, couldn't find the ruthless streak to punish their opponents on the scoreboard, It means Ireland will instead play Scotland and England to close out their campaign. Ireland pressed right from the off, but a single German breakaway was enough to see them win two penalty corners in quick succession, both of which Ireland defended. After a period of German pressure Ireland were efficient in attack, Mikayla Power receiving the ball on the right flank and winning a penalty corner. Hannah McLoughlin was the option for a straight strike which was well saved and cleared. Ireland mounted another attack soon after, with Emily Kealy driving into the circle and winning a penalty stroke. McLoughlin stepped up to take the set piece, only to see her effort saved by Julia Sonntag. Ireland's intensity continued into the second quarter, causing real problems for the German defence through more intense pressing. Several turnovers gave Ireland opportunities to run at their opposition's backline, but strong defence kept them at bay. The sides went into the half-time break on level terms. Ireland picked up where they left off in the second half, McAuley driving well down the left and drawing a foul that saw the hosts reduced to 10 players following a green card. Two late green cards for Ireland's Roisin Upton and Niamh Carey meant Ireland had to see out the remaining minutes down two players, defending resolutely to stay on level terms at the end of the third quarter. Germany created the first chance of the final quarter, winning a penalty corner inside the first two minutes which they put wide of the left post. Ireland responded well, again squeezing the German defence in the press. With eight minutes remaining, Power did superbly to control an aerial from McLoughlin and test substitute goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski. Ireland withdrew goalkeeper Lizzie Murphy in a last-ditch effort to get a win with five minutes remaining. A penalty corner with a minute to remain gave Ireland a last chance to get a much-deserved win, testing Kubalski twice in the German net but they couldn't find the breakthrough. "We went toe-to-toe with Germany in front of a home crowd," head coach Gareth Grundie said afterwards. "We certainly had our opportunities; I think if one had gone in in the first quarter it certainly would have put them under pressure. "I think the damage was probably already done on Monday against France. If we had come out of that game with a result, then Germany needing to win tonight would have given us a real opportunity." Ireland will face Scotland on Friday (11.30am) and England on Sunday (11.30am) in crossover matches to determine their final ranking.
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Properties near new Christchurch stadium being snapped up
A surge in interest from out-of-town investors has been cited for pushing up the price of central city townhouses near Christchurch's new $683 million stadium. OneRoof reported a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property on Lichfield St - 33m away from One New Zealand Stadium - smashed expectations after it went for $705,000 last Wednesday. Seven investors battled it out for the property in the auction room, OneRoof reported. A Nelson buyer won the auction after 26 bids were placed. OneRoof reported everyone in the auction wanted to run it as an Airbnb. Vivacity director and agent Aaron Pero told OneRoof investors were looking for townhouses or apartments in Christchurch's mixed-use zone so they could use them as short-term lets all year. The stadium is due to open in April 2026, but Pero told OneRoof smart investors were thinking ahead and getting in early. "Now it's [the stadium] getting more attention, and it's impossible to miss now, a lot more people are realising they need to buy now. "As soon as it's finished, everybody is going to jump on that bandwagon," Pero told OneRoof . Ray White agent Ali Ahmadi told OneRoof over the last few weeks there had been a noticeable spike in inquiries from out-of-towners looking for a property near the stadium in the mixed-use zone. "Causing all of this are the headlines about the stadium being near completion and the new downtown plans. "People are seeing it in the media and know this is where they need to invest their money." He told OneRoof he has been fielding inquiries from Auckland and Wellington investors. One told him not enough motels and hotels had been built in Christchurch since the earthquakes to meet future demand. "Everyone thinks that it's the Airbnb market that will have more interest after the stadium is built because they don't think that the type of accommodation we have for guests is enough." Ahmadi told OneRoof that investors were the primary buyers at the moment and were mainly seeking centrally located properties in the mixed-use zone. Other townhouses outside the zone were getting a look-in, though. A three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment for sale for $529,000 at 103/226 Salisbury Street is in the residential-use area and attracted more than 900 views within 24 hours of hitting the market. Harcourts agent Mark McLoughlin told OneRoof some investors were "getting in early" in anticipation of the stadium opening. He said a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a covered car park on Sugarloaf Lane, opposite the Justice Precinct, sold for $719,000 in April. McLoughlin said an investor paid $20,000 more than the asking price after several offers were received. 'I showed them on the Wednesday and we did the multi-offers on the Friday.' McLoughlin agreed some investors were getting in early in anticipation of the stadium opening.
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Properties near new stadium being snapped up for Airbnbs
A surge in interest from out-of-town investors has been cited for pushing up the price of central city townhouses near Christchurch's new $683 million stadium. OneRoof reported a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property on Lichfield St - 33m away from One New Zealand Stadium - smashed expectations after it went for $705,000 last Wednesday. Seven investors battled it out for the property in the auction room, OneRoof reported. A Nelson buyer won the auction after 26 bids were placed. OneRoof reported everyone in the auction wanted to run it as an Airbnb. Vivacity director and agent Aaron Pero told OneRoof investors were looking for townhouses or apartments in Christchurch's mixed-use zone so they could use them as short-term lets all year. The stadium is due to open in April 2026, but Pero told OneRoof smart investors were thinking ahead and getting in early. "Now it's [the stadium] getting more attention, and it's impossible to miss now, a lot more people are realising they need to buy now. "As soon as it's finished, everybody is going to jump on that bandwagon," Pero told OneRoof . Ray White agent Ali Ahmadi told OneRoof over the last few weeks there had been a noticeable spike in inquiries from out-of-towners looking for a property near the stadium in the mixed-use zone. "Causing all of this are the headlines about the stadium being near completion and the new downtown plans. "People are seeing it in the media and know this is where they need to invest their money." He told OneRoof he has been fielding inquiries from Auckland and Wellington investors. One told him not enough motels and hotels had been built in Christchurch since the earthquakes to meet future demand. "Everyone thinks that it's the Airbnb market that will have more interest after the stadium is built because they don't think that the type of accommodation we have for guests is enough." Ahmadi told OneRoof that investors were the primary buyers at the moment and were mainly seeking centrally located properties in the mixed-use zone. Other townhouses outside the zone were getting a look-in, though. A three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment for sale for $529,000 at 103/226 Salisbury Street is in the residential-use area and attracted more than 900 views within 24 hours of hitting the market. Harcourts agent Mark McLoughlin told OneRoof some investors were "getting in early" in anticipation of the stadium opening. He said a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a covered car park on Sugarloaf Lane, opposite the Justice Precinct, sold for $719,000 in April. McLoughlin said an investor paid $20,000 more than the asking price after several offers were received. 'I showed them on the Wednesday and we did the multi-offers on the Friday.' McLoughlin agreed some investors were getting in early in anticipation of the stadium opening.
